Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has inaugurated the start of construction on the first phase of the Dong Dang (Lang Son) - Tra Linh (Cao Bang) expressway project in the country.

The beginning of work on this key expressway was marked by a ground-breaking ceremony held yesterday (1 January 2024). 

The expressway, spanning 121km, is a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic growth. 

It will feature four mountain tunnels and multiple bridges that will be constructed in two phases, with a total investment nearing VND23tn ($947.6m). 

The initial phase of this project covers 93.35km, which extends between two north-western border provinces. 

It will start from the Tan Thanh border gate intersection in the Van Lang district of Lang Son province and will end at National Highway 3 in the Chi Thao commune in Cao Bang province’s Quang Hoa district.  

This phase has been allocated with a budget of VND14.3tn and is expected to be completed within 36 months. 

Designed for speeds up to 80kmph, the 17m-wide road is said to be the largest transport infrastructure investment in Cao Bang province to date. 

Chinh highlighted the expressway's potential to stimulate socioeconomic progress, strengthen national defence, and uphold border sovereignty.  

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, Chinh asked the Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces, as well as the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, to consider the expansion of the expressway from two lanes to four.

The expressway is projected to be lengthened to the Tra Linh border gate in Cao Bang province, bringing its total length to 115km, after 2025.  

So far, Vietnam has established nearly 1,900km of expressways, which is further planned to increase to 3,000km by 2030 and 5,000km by 2050, a media statement by Chinh said.