Groundbreaking for National Highway 1 (NH1) Expansion Project (Section through Quang Binh)
24 April 2013, 14:16 GMT+7
On the morning of 24 April, the Ministry of Transport and Tasco Joint Stock Company officially broke ground for the National Highway 1 expansion project within Quang Binh Province (implemented under the BOT model) with a total investment of about VND 2,004 billion. This is one of the Ministry of Transport’s key projects for the 2012–2015 period. Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Minister Đinh La Thăng, Deputy Minister Trương Tấn Viên and leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee of Quang Binh Province.
Deputy Minister Trương Tấn Viên gives the order to start the project
This project aims to meet rapidly increasing transport demand, reduce congestion and traffic accidents on National Highway 1, and reflects awareness of the importance of building synchronised infrastructure in line with Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW of 16 January 2012 of the 11th Party Central Committee on building a synchronised infrastructure system to enable our country to basically become an industrialised nation oriented towards modernisation by 2020, and Decision No. 355/QĐ-TTg of 25 February 2013 of the Prime Minister on the adjustment of the transport development strategy to 2020 with a vision to 2030, in which the orientation for road infrastructure development is to prioritise investment in upgrading and expanding National Highway 1A, completing most of it by 2015 and the entire route by 2020.
Minister Đinh La Thăng and Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Hoài, Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee, sign a commitment on coordination in land clearance for the project.
At the ceremony, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, Minister Đinh La Thăng and on behalf of Quang Binh Province, Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Hoài, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, signed a commitment on coordination in implementing land clearance for the project.
Mr. Phạm Quang Dũng, representing the investor TASCO, commits to completing the project in accordance with the contract
Mr. Phạm Lục Lang, representing BIDV, commits to providing sufficient capital for the investor to implement the project
The Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee commits to implementing land clearance for the project
Authorised by Minister Đinh La Thăng, Deputy Minister Trương Tấn Viên gave the order to commence the project. The Deputy Minister also requested the Quang Binh Provincial People’s Committee to direct the implementation of land clearance and to hand over cleared land to the investor early so that conditions are in place to accelerate construction progress. At the same time, the forces of the police and transport inspectors must ensure traffic safety during construction so as to minimise impacts on travel along the national highway and the lives of local residents.
Minister Đinh La Thăng, Deputy Minister Trương Tấn Viên and leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee of Quang Binh Province, BIDV Bank and TASCO, the investor, press the button to give the order to commence the project
Deputy Minister Trương Tấn Viên requested the investor to strictly comply with legal regulations and the directions of the Ministry of Transport and Quang Binh Province, and to organise construction in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the signed contract. Units under the Ministry of Transport, especially the PPP Project Management Unit, Department for Construction Management and Quality of Transport Works, and the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam must strengthen inspection and supervision, advise the Ministry to quickly resolve project procedures and emerging issues, create the most favourable conditions for the investor, and promptly remind and strictly handle any violations that may arise during construction.
It is known that the investment and construction project to expand National Highway 1 in Quang Binh includes two sections. Section 1 runs from Km597+549 to Km605+000. The starting point is at Km597+549 in Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province (at the end of Deo Ngang Pass Tunnel). The end point is at Km605+000 in Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province. Section 2 runs from Km617+000 to Km641+000. The starting point is at Km617+000 in Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province. The end point is at Km641+000 in Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province. The total route length is 29.21 km (excluding section Km625+300–Km626+700 across Gianh Bridge, which remains unchanged, and section Km639+569.11–Km639+941.32 across Ly Hoa Bridge under the weak bridge project). The project is invested by Tasco Joint Stock Company, an enterprise with more than 40 years of experience in transport construction and a pioneer in BT and BOT projects.
After expansion, the sections of the route under the Project will meet the standards of grade III delta roads with a design speed of 80 km/h. Formation width: for sections outside urban areas, B = 20.5 m; for sections within urban areas, B = 24.5 m, including 4 lanes for motor vehicles and 2 lanes for rudimentary vehicles. Works along the route include 7 bridges with cross-sections consistent with the road formation width.
To recover the investment capital, the investor will build a toll station at Km601 and start collecting tolls from January 2016. The concession period for operating and transferring the facility is expected to be 22 years from the toll collection start date. The investor will manage and operate the works after project completion and will transfer the project works free of charge to the competent State authority after the end of the toll collection period for capital recovery.
The project will be constructed over 30 months and will be completed in 2015.
