Vietnam's longest highway inaugurated

Vietnam’s longest highway, connecting Hanoi and the northern border province of Lao Cai, was officially inaugurated at Gia Phu commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province on September 21.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Ribbon cutting at the inauguration ceremony

According to Mai Tuan Anh, General Director of Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the highway is one of the large-scale highway projects in Vietnam, being 245 kilometres long and passing through five provinces and cities, including Ha Noi, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai.

The Hanoi-Lao Cai highway begins at the intersection of National Highway 2 and Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai Highway in Hanoi, and ends at Quang Kim commune in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. The project is expected to shorten travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai to 3.5 hours from the previous seven hours.

Additionally, a 26km section is also the first part of a route running through the economic corridor of Kunming (China), Lao Cai, Hanoi and Hai Phong. Therefore, the inauguration is considered as great importance for regional socio-economic development and security.

The highway includes two main sections. Hanoi-Yen Bai section has four main lanes and two emergency stopping shoulders for vehicles, with a maximum speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour, while Yen Bai-Lao Cai section has two main lanes and two emergency stopping shoulders for vehicles, with a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

Addressing the ceremony, PM Dung praised efforts of Ministry of Transport, VEC and contractors, as well as related ministries and industries in implementing the project.

He asked local authorities to support local families who have relocated in order to clear the sites for the project. He also asked that related provinces would continue to upgrade the Yen Bai-Lao Cai section.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)