Full four-lane investment proposed for Bao Loc - Lien Khuong Expressway
On August 14, Nguyen Hong Hai, member of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee's Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired a meeting with relevant parties to review the appraisal of the revised investment policy proposal for Phase 1 of the Bao Loc - Lien Khuong Expressway project, to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The meeting focused on a comprehensive review of key proposed adjustments to the project before the dossier is finalised and submitted to competent authorities for consideration and approval.
According to the Appraisal Council, the Bao Loc-Lien Khuong Expressway is a key section of the Dau Giay-Lien Khuong expressway corridor, connecting the Central Highlands with the southern key economic region.
The expressway is expected to ease pressure on National Highway 20 and create new momentum for socio-economic development in Lam Dong and the wider Central Highlands.
The revised proposal was prepared following the Prime Minister's direction to review and complete expressway projects initially developed under phased investment plans.
The project spans approximately 73.64 km, starting in Ward 1 Bao Loc and ending in Hiep Thanh Commune, Lam Dong Province.
The most significant proposed adjustment is to replace the initial phased plan featuring a 17-metre-wide roadbed with a full four-lane expressway featuring a 24.75-metre-wide roadbed, a design speed of 100 km/h and continuous emergency lanes in accordance with national technical standards for expressways.
The Appraisal Council said building the expressway to its full design from the outset would ensure technical consistency, improve traffic safety and increase capacity, while avoiding costly widening and reconstruction in the future.
At the meeting, delegates discussed a range of technical and financial aspects of the revised proposal.
The proposal includes the addition of the Gia Hiep Interchange to improve connectivity with the regional transport network, as well as an overpass at Km196+170 to support travel, agricultural production and goods transport for residents of nearby villages.
Participants also reviewed frontage roads, local overpasses and connecting infrastructure in areas along the expressway route.
The project timeline was also a key focus of discussion. As the shift to a full-scale four-lane design would increase construction workloads and require additional legal procedures, the Appraisal Council proposed extending the implementation period from 2022 - 2027 to 2022 - 2028.
The project is targeted for technical opening in the third quarter of 2028, followed by full operation in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Relevant agencies said the revised timeline would better reflect actual construction conditions, particularly given Lam Dong's challenging terrain and prolonged rainy season.
Under the preliminary revised plan, the project's total investment is estimated at around VND 18.036 trillion, higher than previously approved due to the proposed upgrade to the full-scale expressway design and the addition of local connectivity infrastructure.
Among the financing options under consideration, the project company has proposed increasing State budget funding while keeping the investor's contribution unchanged. The approach is intended to maintain the project's financial viability and facilitate access to long-term financing.
Concluding the meeting, Nguyen Hong Hai described the expressway as a strategic transport infrastructure project of particular importance to Lam Dong's goal of rapid and sustainable development.
Provincial departments, the Appraisal Council and the project company must thoroughly review the entire dossier, incorporate the latest legal requirements, and finalise the technical proposal, total investment estimate and financing plan. The effectiveness of each proposed adjustment must also be clearly assessed to ensure transparency, feasibility and legal compliance.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai
The Vice Chairman urged relevant agencies to work closely together to promptly resolve bottlenecks involving land, mineral resources, site clearance and investment procedures, while making the necessary preparations so that the next steps can begin immediately once the revised investment policy is approved by competent authorities.
These efforts are expected to accelerate the development of the Bao Loc - Lien Khuong Expressway to its full design, creating new momentum for socio-economic development in Lam Dong and the Central Highlands in the coming years.