More than 7,600 billion VND to remove the 'bottleneck' on the Noi Bai

According to the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the investor of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway project, the entire route is 264 km long, starting at the North Thang Long - Noi Bai intersection (Hanoi), ending at Bat Xat commune (Lao Cai). The route plays a particularly important role in the Kunming - Hanoi - Hai Phong economic corridor, connecting directly with the Kunming - Hekou Expressway (China).

Hanoi Expressway was put into operation in 2014, including 2 sections: Noi Bai - Yen Bai and Yen Bai - Lao Cai. Phase 1 of the project has created a turning point for the transport industry by shortening the travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai border gate to only 3.5 hours, instead of 7 hours previously. The route has opened up great opportunities for trade, investment and tourism in the Northwest region.

Phase 1 of the Yen Bai - Lao Cai expressway, part of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, has opened up great opportunities for trade, investment and tourism in the Northwest region. Photo: VEC.

Currently, the Noi Bai - Yen Bai section has a scale of 4 lanes, speed of 100 km/h, while the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section has only 2 lanes, speed of 80 km/h. This difference, together with the average traffic growth of 10%/year, puts the route at risk of overload by 2027.

VEC added that the section Km123+080 - Km244+155 of the Yen Bai - Lao Cai expressway currently has many locations without a median strip, posing a potential safety risk. In the context of the planning until 2030 with the goal of completing the entire route, the expansion of the Yen Bai - Lao Cai expressway is considered an urgent solution, with three main goals.

Specifically, the expansion of the expressway section aims to synchronize the scale with the Noi Bai - Yen Bai section; meet the increasing traffic demand; contribute to economic, social and tourism development and ensure national defense and security in the border area.

According to the investment decision, the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section expansion project is over 121 km long. Of which, the road will be expanded from 2 to 4 lanes, the roadbed will be 24 m wide, and a median strip will be added. The implementation period is 2025 - 2027, the project is expected to start on October 1 and basically be completed in 2026 according to the Prime Minister's direction.

The Yen Bai - Lao Cai section expansion project will upgrade the road from 2 to 4 lanes. Photo: VEC.

The project also builds new bridge units on the left side of the route, synchronized with the existing bridge; Dai Viet bridge and Van Xuan bridge will be expanded according to the scale of the approach tunnel. On the other hand, VEC also builds a new tunnel at Km186, about 530m long, 3 lanes/direction, parallel to the current tunnel.

"The Yen Bai - Lao Cai expressway expansion project will add an intersection at Km165+690, designed in a T-shape. At the same time, it will invest in a synchronous ITS intelligent traffic system for the entire route, including surveillance cameras, data centers, and ETC toll collection systems," said a VEC representative, adding that the project will apply building information modeling (BIM) and digital technology solutions in management, construction, and operation.

When the "upgrade" of the Yen Bai - Lao Cai expressway is completed, the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway will have 4 lanes on the entire route, helping to increase transport capacity and reduce the load on National Highways 70 and 32C. Promoting border trade, especially with China. In addition, the project also contributes to the development of tourism in the Northwest, connecting Hanoi - Sa Pa - Y Ty - Bac Ha quickly and safely.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hon-7600-ty-dong-xoa-nut-that-co-chai-tren-cao-toc-noi-bai-lao-cai-post1782091.tpo