Breakthrough solutions for infrastructure development, especially urban infrastructure and traffic infrastructure, in a synchronous and modern direction

At the 1st Congress of Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee, term 2020-2030, Director of the Department of Construction - Duong Van Phuc presented a speech with the topic: "Tasks and breakthrough solutions for infrastructure development, especially urban infrastructure and transport infrastructure in a synchronous and modern direction to meet the requirements of regional connectivity and rapid and sustainable socio -economic development".

Director of the Department of Construction spoke at the congress. Photo: BA THI

DISCUSSION

On behalf of the Department of Construction, I highly agree with the Political Report of the Provincial Party Executive Committee presented to the Congress. To contribute to deepening the development orientations in the coming term, I would like to present a speech with the topic "Tasks and breakthrough solutions for infrastructure development, especially urban infrastructure and transport infrastructure in a synchronous and modern direction to meet the requirements of regional connectivity and rapid and sustainable socio-economic development".

Urban infrastructure and transport infrastructure are key factors, prerequisites for socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security. Clearly identifying the special importance of the urban infrastructure system and transport infrastructure, throughout many terms, especially the 2020-2025 term, the province has led the construction and transport sectors to make efforts to complete the planning and investment work to build the province's transport infrastructure system and urban infrastructure, achieving many outstanding results, promoting potentials and advantages to contribute to the socio-economic development of the province.

Implementing the policy of rearranging and reorganizing administrative units at all levels and building a 2-level local government model, the new Vinh Long province after the merger has a large scale in terms of area, population and is located in the center of the Mekong Delta region. This is an important turning point, opening up many opportunities but at the same time posing great challenges in developing synchronous and modern infrastructure to meet the requirements of regional connectivity and rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

1. Current status of traffic and urban infrastructure in Vinh Long province after the merger

- By road:

+ Expressway: The province has 01 expressway with a length of about 13km (My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway).

+ National highways: The province currently has 09 national highways with a total length of 716km, including National Highway 1, National Highway 53, National Highway 53B, National Highway 54, National Highway 57, National Highway 57B, National Highway 57C, National Highway 60 and National Highway 80.

+ Local roads: Including 29 provincial roads with a total length of 737km; 163 district roads with a total length of 1,322km.

- In addition to the key traffic system, connecting traffic creates momentum for urban and socio-economic development in general, the province has recently paid attention to investing in developing framework infrastructure on main urban axes, infrastructure of urban areas, new residential areas, etc. In addition to ensuring the development of service infrastructure, serving the needs of urban development, it also contributes to significantly changing the urban appearance in a civilized and modern direction.

- Regarding waterways: In Vinh Long province, there are many large rivers including: Tien River, Hau River, Co Chien River, Mang Thit River, Ham Luong River, Ba Lai River flowing into the East Sea through Dai estuary, Ham Luong estuary, Ba Lai estuary, Co Chien estuary, Dinh An estuary, etc. The total length of inland waterways in the province is about 2,117km. In addition, in the province there are also 03 seaports and wharf areas: Vinh Thai Wharf Area, Binh Minh Wharf Area, Tiem Nang - Binh Tan Wharf Area; Duyen Hai - Dinh An Port, Tra Cu - Kim Son Port; Tan Cang Giao Long is capable of receiving ships of 5,000T-20,000T.

2. Advantages

- The road and waterway network in the province is distributed relatively widely, connecting the regions together.

- In recent years, the investment in building transport infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region in general and Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh provinces before the merger in particular has received special attention from the Government and central ministries and branches, achieving many positive results:

+ Invest in and complete the construction of component projects on the Eastern North-South Expressway, including 02 projects passing through Vinh Long province: (i) Investment project to build My Thuan 02 bridge over Tien river; (ii) Investment project to build My Thuan - Can Tho expressway, phase 1, with a total length of nearly 23km, passing through Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces.

+ Investment in construction and completion of Rach Mieu 02 bridge connecting the two provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang (old).

+ Investing in the construction of Dai Ngai bridge on National Highway 60 in the territory of the former Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces (now Vinh Long province and Can Tho city).

- Along with that, in the past time, the Department of Construction has also presided over and coordinated with the departments to advise the province on implementing investment in construction, renovation and upgrading of provincial roads such as: DT.902, DT.907, DT.910, DT.913, DT.915, DT.915B, ... as well as investing in the construction of a number of important projects and works, aiming to improve the ability to connect trade and have regional connectivity, notably: Bung Lon Bridge Project, Ba Dong Bridge Project, Upgrading National Highway 57 from Dinh Khao ferry to Mo Cay town, Ba Lai 8 Bridge Project, ... Currently, the province is urgently completing the procedures to organize the selection of investors to build Dinh Khao bridge on National Highway 57 under the public-private partnership method. The project is expected to start construction in December 2025.

- After these projects are completed and put into operation, they will connect the expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, connect National Highway 57 to remove the bottleneck at Dinh Khao ferry terminal and create a regional traffic network, which will help facilitate travel and goods circulation, help businesses develop better production and attract investment, create a driving force to promote economic development of the province and the Mekong Delta region; contribute to strengthening the national security and defense of the locality and region.

3. Difficulties and limitations

Besides the above achievements, there are still some difficulties and limitations as follows:

- The investment in the construction of the province's transport infrastructure has not yet met the desired development requirements, there are still some bottlenecks. The rate of investment in completing the intra-regional and inter-regional transport infrastructure according to the planning is still low.

- The implementation of urban infrastructure, especially infrastructure of urban area projects, still faces many difficulties and obstacles; the urbanization rate and urbanization speed of the region are still much lower than the national average.

- Due to limited capital, the construction of works lacks uniformity. The National Highway system through Vinh Long province is still narrow, the road surface has been degraded and severely damaged, with potential risks and traffic insecurity very high such as National Highway 53, National Highway 54, National Highway 60.

- The capital for maintenance and repair of traffic works in operation only meets about 30% of the demand, so the transport capacity of traffic works has not been fully exploited, affecting the circulation of means of transport.

- The waterway infrastructure system is underdeveloped, only exploited according to natural conditions, and has not invested in dredging routes. Some bridge works on key waterways do not ensure clearance according to regulations, limiting the exploitation of large-tonnage vessels, causing overload for the road system.

4. Tasks and solutions for implementation

In order to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles and promote the development of urban infrastructure and traffic in a synchronous and modern direction to meet the requirements of regional connectivity and rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, the Party Committee of the Department of Construction would like to propose a number of tasks and solutions as follows:

4.1. Solutions on planning and investment

Complete the planning of Vinh Long province after the merger in a synchronous direction with the planning of the Mekong Delta region and the national planning, taking transport and urban infrastructure as the development axis, linking infrastructure development with environmental protection, adapting to climate change, improving drainage capacity, preventing urban flooding, towards a green, smart and sustainable city. Complete the planning of a modern, multi-modal transport network: Expressways, national highways, inland waterways and railways (in the future), to enhance connectivity with Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho City and export gateways, gradually synchronous and modern; effectively connecting between types of transport and between the national transport system and the local transport system.

(i) Regarding railways: The planning orientation to 2030, with a vision to 2050, will complete the important Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho corridor railway line, the section passing through Vinh Long province will have 02 stations (My Thuan Station and Binh Minh Station).

(ii) By road:

- Expressways: Planning and prioritizing investment calls for My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway (phase 2); Hong Ngu - Tra Vinh Expressway (now Vinh Long province); Ho Chi Minh City - Tien Giang - Ben Tre - Tra Vinh - Soc Trang Expressway (CT.33).

- National Highways: Focus on investing in the construction of projects with strategic orientation and regional connectivity significance: (1) Investment project to build the extended Vo Van Kiet road (connecting to the intersection with the My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway). (2) Investment project to build Dinh Khao bridge on National Highway 57 under the public-private partnership method. (3) Investment project to build the coastal road in Vinh Long province. (4) Investment project to build the National Highway 57 bypass (access road to Dinh Khao bridge). (5) Project to upgrade National Highway 57 from the intersection with the access road to Dinh Khao bridge to the end of the route. (6) Project to upgrade National Highway 57C from the section adjacent to National Highway 57B to Tan Thanh roundabout and to the end of the route. (7) Project to improve and upgrade National Highway 53 and National Highway 54 through Vinh Long province. (8) National Highway 60 construction investment project (expanding Ham Luong bridge and upgrading and expanding sections on National Highway 60). (9) National Highway 57B upgrading and expansion project from the border of National Highway 57 to the end of the route.

- Local road system:

+ Planning orientation to 2050 all provincial roads will reach level III, with a minimum road surface of 2-4 lanes. From now until 2030, the routes will be invested in upgrading to at least level IV standards, with a minimum road surface of 2 lanes.

+ The orientation of the rural transport system planning needs to promote the geographical advantages and natural conditions of each locality, combining transport with irrigation and other economic sectors in the area to ensure the ability to transport goods and travel of people.

(iii) By waterway

- Orientation of developing waterway transport in conjunction with the road transport network to form a complete system, ensuring connection of production areas, industrial zones and clusters, etc. with consumption areas, traffic hubs and serving the needs of transporting goods and developing tourism.

- Prioritize dredging and upgrading waterways on major rivers in the province to ensure the operation of large-capacity ships.

- Implement the Project to research and evaluate the potential for deep-water development in Tra Vinh province (old).

(iv) On urban infrastructure

Continue to pay attention to investment and call for investment in urban infrastructure development, review and accelerate the progress of new urban area and urban residential area projects; effectively and synchronously implement urban upgrading projects, ensure solutions to minimize flooding in urban areas; prioritize balancing resources to implement investment in urban wastewater treatment systems, in order to contribute to ensuring environmental sanitation and sustainable urban development.

4.2. Capital solutions

- In the context of limited capital for investment in the province's infrastructure, while the investment demand for developing transport and urban infrastructure is very large. Therefore, the provincial departments and branches need to coordinate closely, regularly review and assess the actual infrastructure development needs of each area to advise, propose and adjust the priority investment list appropriately, ensuring concentrated investment, with focus and key points in accordance with the ability to balance capital sources.

- Focus on calling for and attracting non-budgetary capital sources to participate in investing in the construction of traffic projects and works to meet the capital investment needs for developing projects according to the Vinh Long Provincial Planning. Encourage and invite businesses and investors to participate in investing in the development of urban infrastructure, traffic, and logistics infrastructure through risk sharing mechanisms and tax incentives.

4.3. Solutions for human resource development

- Implement the task of training the state management staff; have a policy of prioritizing domestic and foreign training for the staff, civil servants, and management staff serving long-term in the province. Synchronously develop a qualified human resource team, strong enough in all fields, to meet the requirements of sustainable development.

- Focus on developing high-quality human resources. Implement programs and projects to train high-quality human resources for industries and fields related to the transport and urban sectors. Focus on discovering, nurturing, promoting talents, and training human resources for knowledge-based economic development. Closely link human resource development with the development and application of science and technology.

4.4. Solutions on science and technology

- Applying new technology and modern new materials in construction to improve the quality of urban traffic infrastructure works, building smart and environmentally friendly traffic systems.

- Testing and applying many new technologies such as weak ground reinforcement; semi-soft pavement technology; porous drainage asphalt concrete technology; wide-wing beam technology; green technologies, reducing CO2 emissions during infrastructure construction and sustainable construction technologies, in line with the general development trend of the world, ...

Developing urban infrastructure and transport infrastructure in a synchronous and modern direction in Vinh Long province after the merger is of great significance in contributing to enhancing the role of Vinh Long province as a connecting center with the entire Mekong Delta region. This is an opportunity for the province to make a breakthrough, becoming a locality with modern infrastructure, fast and sustainable economic development, and increasingly improving people's lives./.

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/thoi-su/202510/giai-phap-dot-pha-phat-trien-ha-tang-nhat-la-ha-tang-do-thi-ha-tang-giao-thong-theo-huong-dong-bo-hien-dai-9c136fc/