The Project Management Unit (PMU) No.2 under the Ministry of Transport started the construction of a road connecting the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau to the Hanoi – Lao Cai highway, with a total length of 147 kilometers.

The Hanoi – Lao Cai expressway. File photo

Inadequate road transport infrastructure in the mountainous region, including Lai Chau, would cause difficulties for transportation to delta areas, or seaports, creating hindrances to socio-economic development.

For that reason, “Investment in a road section from the Northern mountainous region to Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway, including from Lai Chau to Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway, is necessary and contributes to realizing the development potential in terms of tourism, culture, and mining in the Northwest in general, and Lai Chau in particular,” stated the agency.

The first component of the project from junction IC16 in Lai Chau province to Khanh Yen (Lao Cai) needs an investment capital of VND474 billion (US$20 million) and a construction period of 30 months. The road is designed to the level 3 mountain road standard and allows an average travel speed of 60 kilometers per hour.

According to PMU No.2, in addition to the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway of high standards, the majority of roads in the Northwest region meet mountainous road levels 4-5 criteria.