VEC proposes roadmap to upgrade and expand 50 km of Cau Gie

A section of Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway invested by VEC. (Photo: Huu Chanh).

VEC has just sent a document to the Ministry of Construction regarding the planning scale and investment scale of the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh Expressway expansion project.

According to VEC, the Road Network Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, has determined that the North-South expressway in the east, Cau Gie - Ninh Binh section, is 50 km long, with investment progress before 2030.

Of which, the Cau Gie - Phu Thu section has a scale of 10 lanes, the Phu Thu - Ninh Binh section has a scale of 6 lanes. However, Section III.1 of Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg on road network planning stipulates: "The planned scale is the scale calculated according to the forecast demand. During the implementation process, depending on the transportation demand and the investment resource capacity, the investment policy decision-making authority decides on the investment phase to ensure project efficiency".

Based on the forecast of traffic volume through each section of the route, the ability to balance investment resources and construction site conditions to implement the project, VEC proposed that the Ministry of Construction divide the investment into phases to expand the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway.

Specifically, VEC will complete the investment in expanding the entire Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway from 4 lanes to 6 lanes in 2027; expand the investment according to the planning scale of 6 - 10 lanes when traffic volume reaches full load and synchronizes with connecting routes.

The Cau Gie - Ninh Binh Expressway Project Phase 1, invested by VEC with a scale of 4 lanes and a total length of about 50 km, was completed and put into operation in 2012.

From 2012 to the end of 2024, traffic volume on the route has continuously increased (an average of over 10%/year). It is forecasted that by the end of 2025, the Dai Xuyen - Vuc Vong section will reach a traffic volume of about 81,342 PCU/day and night; the Vuc Vong - Liem Tuyen section will reach a traffic volume of about 70,037 PCU/day and night and the Liem Tuyen - Cao Bo section will reach a traffic volume of about 40,710 PCU/day and night.

According to VEC's calculations, the Dai Xuyen - Vuc Vong section (Km210+000 - Km218+400) currently has traffic volume exceeding 40% of the capacity for a 4-lane road.

By the end of 2027, this section needs to be expanded to a scale of 6 lanes that can be operated stably until the end of 2033. After 2033, it is necessary to study the expansion according to the planned scale of 10 lanes.

The Vuc Vong - Phu Thu section (Km218+400 - Km226+200) currently has traffic volume exceeding 20% of the capacity for a 4-lane road, so by the end of 2027, the expansion to a 6-lane road will be completed and can be operated stably until the end of 2035.

After 2035, this route needs to be studied and expanded to 10 lanes according to the planning scale.

The Phu Thu - Liem Tuyen section (Km226+200 - Km230+700) has a traffic volume exceeding 20% of the capacity for a 4-lane road, so by the end of 2027 it needs to be expanded to a 6-lane road that can be operated stably until 2035.

After 2035, this section needs to study investment options to build parallel roads on both sides of the highway or reasonably divide traffic according to the regional network, to meet increased transportation needs and ensure effective exploitation of the route (because the section has been completed according to the planning scale).

Previously, VEC had proposed to expand the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway from 4 lanes to 6 lanes on the roadbed, bridge, culvert, ... which had been built with a scale of 6 lanes with a total cost of 2,113 billion VND, of which the State budget capital was 840 billion VND (about 40% of the total investment); VEC mobilized capital was 1,273 billion VND (about 60% of the total investment) including VEC's own capital of 270 billion VND, loan capital of 890 billion VND, loan interest during the construction period (expected 9%/year) of 113 billion VND.

If approved by competent authorities, VEC will prepare for investment in the Project in 2025; implement investment from 2026 to 2028, expected to start construction in the first quarter of 2026.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/vec-de-xuat-lo-trinh-nang-cap-mo-rong-50-km-cao-toc-cau-gie---ninh-binh-d397469.html