The My Thuan Project Management Board has proposed a significant expansion of the My An - Cao Lanh expressway, with an additional investment of over 4,660 billion VND. This project aims to upgrade the expressway to four full lanes, including emergency shoulders, enhancing connectivity within the Mekong Delta region.

According to a report submitted to the Ministry of Construction, the expressway's route and structures will be widened from a 17-meter roadbed to 24 meters. This expansion will replace the limited 4-lane design approved in phase one, providing full emergency shoulders for improved safety and traffic flow.

A key component of the expansion is the Nguyen Van Tiep A bridge, which is proposed to have an additional parallel span built, creating a 6-lane structure with a 35-meter wide bridge deck. Other elements will also see comprehensive development, including: bridges, interchanges, drainage, service roads, traffic safety and management systems, and electronic toll collection stations.

The expressway is approximately 26 km long and located in Dong Thap province. It begins at its connection with route N2 in Doc Binh Kieu commune and concludes at the An Binh interchange in My Tra ward. This section forms part of the Western North-South expressway axis, crucial for linking routes within the Mekong Delta region.

The additional capital required to complete the route is estimated at 4,661 billion VND. This includes: construction costs of about 3,071 billion VND, equipment at 175 billion VND, project management, consulting, and other costs totaling 486 billion VND, and a contingency fund of approximately 927 billion VND. The My Thuan Project Management Board has recommended using the state budget for this additional investment.

The project site has already undergone land clearance for a 6-lane scale, according to the investor. Consequently, this expansion phase will not incur additional land clearance efforts.

Route alignment of the My An - Cao Lanh expressway. *Graphic: Khanh Hoang*

Phase one of the My An - Cao Lanh expressway is currently under construction, with approximately 32% of the work completed. To maintain the overall project timeline, the investor has proposed initiating surveys, design preparation, and administrative procedures for the expansion while awaiting approval for the investment policy adjustment.

If the plan is approved, construction for the expansion is anticipated to begin in 2027, with the goal of opening the entire route to traffic in 2028. Once completed, the expressway is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between the Mekong Delta and TP HCM and the Southeast region. It will also maximize the efficiency of existing and planned routes such as: Cao Lanh - Lo Te, Lo Te - Rach Soi, An Huu - Cao Lanh, and Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang.

Anh Duy