The Ha Long - Hai Phong Expressway was opened to traffic at a ceremony on Saturday which saw the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
This is the first expressway nationwide the PM had assigned localities to implement, using the provincial budget and capital mobilised from the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Built at a cost of over VND13.6 trillion (US$581 million), the 25.2 km-long expressway connects Highway 18 in Dai Yen Ward of northeastern Quang Ninh Province’s Ha Long City with the Ha Noi - Hai Phong Expressway in Hai An District of the northern port city of Hai Phong.
The Hạ Long - Hải Phòng Expressway is expected to create breakthroughs in socio-economic development for the economic triangle covering Ha Noi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
It will cut the distance between Ha Noi and Ha Long from 180km to 130km, and the Ha Long - Hai Phong route from 75km to 25km.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Phuc stressed that infrastructure development is one of the Government’s top priorities in order to ensure rapid and dynamic economic development in tandem with meeting sustainability goals.
The project is expected to carry forward values of the Ha Noi - Hai Phong Expressway, while promoting regional connectivity, opening up more opportunities and space for economic development, he said.
The project has proven Việt Nam’s ability in road and bridge construction as it was invested and designed by the country, using cutting-edge technologies, the leader noted.
Following the ceremony, vehicles were allowed to drive on the expressway with maximum speeds of 80km per hour.
Source: VNS
