Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The make a speech at the groundbreaking of three transportation projects in the Mekong province of Kien Giang and Can Tho city on August 30. - Photo mt.gov.vn

CUU LONG DELTA (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Transport broke ground for three transportation projects in the Mekong province of Kien Giang and Can Tho city on Saturday.

They are a 65.3km section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway from Ben Nhat to Go Quao, upgrade of National Highway No 61 between Cai Tu and Go Quao, and the Rach Soi, Ton Chat, and Doc Dinh bridges on National Highway No 80.

According to the ministry, the Ben Nhat-Go Quao section is part of the highway between Rach Soi and Vinh Thuan. The work includes 12 large, 14 medium, and two small sized bridges, and will cost over VND4.26 trillion (over US$200 million).

The upgrade of the 14km section on National Highway No 61 will cost around VND471 billion ($21.2 million).

The two projects will use funds raised by issuing Government bonds.

Construction of the three bridges on National Highway No 80 is part of a project to upgrade 44 weak bridges across the country at a cost of VND4.11 trillion ($194 million).

Speaking at the groundbreaking, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said the three projects were important for the development of the Can Tho-Kien Giang-Ca Mau Economic Triangle.

When completed, the highways and bridges would help connect the Ho Chi Minh Highway with the highways 1A, 61, 63, and 80 and the coastal road, creating an uninterrupted road system in the region, he added. — VNS