Construction of the first expressway in the Central Highlands begins: The road of aspiration

(HNMO) - June 18, 2023 marks a major event for the ethnic groups in the Central Highlands in general and Dak Lak province in particular: The first expressway of the region was officially started, connecting the plateau with the South Central Coast in Khanh Hoa province.

The entire Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway route is half the length of the old National Highway 26.

Dream come true

Four years ago, the idea of building the first expressway in the Central Highlands connecting the capital of the region, Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak province) with Nha Tranh city (Khanh Hoa province) to replace the narrow and winding National Highway 26 was first proposed by Dak Lak province to the Government 's working group on September 16, 2019. But even the most optimistic people at that time thought it would take another decade for this idea to become a reality.

But from this bold and reasonable proposal of the locality, the authorities have taken action with a spirit of urgency and seriousness in the project to create development momentum for the Central Highlands. On June 16, 2022, after considering the Government's proposal, the 15th National Assembly issued Resolution No. 58/2022/QH15 on the investment policy of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Construction Project, Phase 1.

The old National Highway 26 has now become narrow due to the rapid development of the Central Highlands.

According to Resolution 58, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway project has a total investment of VND 21,935 billion, with a total length of 117.5km (the section through Khanh Hoa is more than 68km long; through Dak Lak province is more than 48km long). The project starts at the intersection of National Highway 26B and National Highway 1, Nam Van Phong port area, Khanh Hoa province, and ends at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh road, the eastern bypass of Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province. When completed, the route will be half the length of National Highway 26, because it complies with the Government's motto of "making tunnels through mountains, making bridges through ravines, creating the shortest route".

Exactly one year after the National Assembly Resolution, the Government organized the groundbreaking ceremony for the first highway along the Central Highlands. Right before the groundbreaking ceremony (June 18), Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak provinces handed over 71% of the project site. The remaining part will be handed over in 2023.

People of Hoa Dong and Ea Kenh communes, Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province have cooperated to hand over the site, hoping for the project to be completed soon.

Krong Pac district is the locality with the longest expressway in Dak Lak, up to 33/48km through the province. Ms. Dam Thi Dao, a resident of Ea Kenh commune, shared: “Everyone here agrees to cooperate in handing over the land for the project. I didn’t expect everything to happen so quickly! We look forward to the road being completed soon, because everyone will benefit from this road.”

The Road of Aspiration

As a business manager, Mr. Le Duc Huy, General Director of Simexco Dak Lak Company, said that previously, the company had to transport exported coffee over 400km by road to Ho Chi Minh City for export. With the new road, coffee only takes more than 2 hours to travel over 100km of highway to Nha Trang. "We have high expectations for this project, because it not only creates favorable conditions for trade but also contributes to attracting many customers and investors to Dak Lak," said Mr. Le Duc Huy.

Perspective of an intersection on Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot highway.

The Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project is investing in the section Km0+000 - Km7+700 (North - South Expressway interchange) with a scale of 4 completed lanes, cross-section of 24.75m; the section Km7+700 - Km117+500 (end of the route) with a scale of 4 limited lanes, cross-section of 17m. The progress requires the basic completion of some sections with high traffic volume by 2025 and synchronous operation by 2027.

According to the People's Committee of Dak Lak province, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway will be a strategic route, playing an important role in awakening and exploiting the potential of eco-tourism in the Central Highlands and connecting the Central Highlands with the South Central Coast.

The lands of Dak Lak province, where the project passes through, expect new development opportunities after the project is completed.

Initial calculations show that when put into operation, this project will impact the economic development of localities and attractive regions by about 0.9-2.1%, an average of 1.5%. For tourism, it will shorten travel time for visitors and help develop outstanding links connecting the "forest" with the "sea".

“We call this the “Road of Aspiration”. For the first time, the Central Highlands has such a wide and short road to the sea. This important national project is of special significance to socio-economic development, contributing to the further development of Dak Lak in particular and the Central Highlands in general,” emphasized Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee Pham Ngoc Nghi.

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