Construction of a Hanoi-Hoa Binh Province road and a Hoa Binh-Moc Chau expressway started on February 26, promising to give a boost to the northwest region.

Government officials led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attend the inauguration of the road and expressway construction project to better connect Hanoi with Hoa Binh and Son La provinces on February 26. Photo: The Vietnam News Agency

The project is divided into two sections. One is 31 kilometers long and connects the Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh expressway to Bo Town in Hoa Binh Province’s Kim Boi District.

The other part is 19 kilometers long, linking Hoa Binh City’s Ky Son Ward with Son La Province’s Moc Chau District at the IC2 intersection of the Hanoi-Hoa Binh-Son La-Dien Bien expressway.

The project stretches a total length of total 50 kilometers, costing some VND4.12 trillion (US$173 million). The regional road and expressway are expected to operate fully in 2027.

The project will cross three districts and one city. It will affect 470 families and more than 300 families will need resettlement.

According to the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee, the project will improve the linkage with Hanoi and Son La Province, further facilitating regional socio-economic growth and national defense.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised Hoa Binh Province for its efforts to develop local transportation infrastructures.

The Prime Minister urged Hoa Binh Province and relevant localities to immediately review the design and construction plan of the project and soon deliver solutions for the remaining issues.

Specifically, PM Chinh said the cost is high and the implementation time is too long. He asked the project management unit to reconsider the development plan and change the design of the expressway to assure it meets the standards of an expressway.

In addition, the Government leader requested relevant localities to speed up land clearance to cut the time of the project implementation.

He suggested that Hoa Binh Province and related units do their best to implement the project in three years, thus saving some VND300 billion (US$12.6 million) of capital.