The expansion of the 29-kilometre section of National Highway 1 in central Quang Binh province kicked off yesterday as part of the plan to upgrade the trans-Vietnam artery from Hanoi to Can Tho.
The project, scheduled to be completed in 30 months, will widen the highway to up to 24.5 metres so that vehicles can travel at a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
The upgraded section will include four lanes for cars, trucks, buses and motorbikes, and two for rudimentary vehicles.
The VND2 trillion (US$96 million) upgrade is financed as a Build-Operate-Transfer project with the Tasco construction company as its investor.
After the expansion is completed, Tasco will be allowed to set up a toll station and begin collecting fees in January 2016 for the duration of 22 years.
The expansion of the National Highway in Quang Binh is expected to drive economic growth in the north central region and reduce traffic accidents on this important route, said Transport Minister Dinh La Thang.
The Ministry of Transport has set a target to finish the upgrade and expansion of the entire 1,887-kilometre National Highway 1 from Hanoi to Can Tho by 2016 to help relieve the increasing traffic load.
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