Ministry of Construction urges Dong Thap to ensure sand supply for Ho Chi Minh City -Trung Luong-My Thuan expressway expansion
(DTO) On March 20, the Ministry of Construction issued Official Dispatch No. 4298 to the Dong Thap People’s Committee, requesting urgent support for construction materials—specifically sand for the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong – My Thuan expressway expansion under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
According to the Ministry of Construction, the project's investment has been approved by the Ministry. The Vietnam Road Administration has signed contracts with the investor and the Project Enterprise to implement the work.
The project passes through Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, and Dong Thap provinces, forming part of the Eastern North-South Expressway axis. This is a vital traffic artery, playing a crucial role in connecting and promoting socio-economic development while ensuring national defense and security for Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region.
Construction began on December 19, 2025, with completion expected in 2028. Currently, the Ministry of Construction is drastically directing the investor and relevant units to urgently finalize procedures to accelerate construction.
According to the investor's report, the main challenge currently facing the project is the shortage of construction materials in the region. Early identification of supply sources and completion of mining procedures are vital prerequisites for finishing the project on schedule.
To ensure the completion goals and promote investment efficiency, the Ministry of Construction requested the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee to direct local departments and agencies to consider supporting and resolving difficulties regarding sand supply for construction.
The Ministry will direct the investor and contractors to coordinate closely with local departments and authorities to promptly address obstacles during implementation.
According to a representative from the Project Enterprise, contractors have deployed 25 construction fronts with 114 pieces of equipment and over 313 engineers and workers.
Currently, the project requires an additional 117 hectares out of a total 1,067 hectares for site clearance. Many locations are hampered by technical infrastructure (water pipes, power lines, telecommunications cables). The Project Enterprise has completed the additional site clearance staking and will hand over the markers to local authorities on March 30, 2026. The project's demand includes 6.9 million cubic meters of embankment sand and 3.5 million cubic meters of stone.
To shorten the project timeline, the Project Enterprise proposed that the Minister of Construction direct the Vietnam Road Administration to collaborate with the investor and local authorities to finalize site clearance by June 2026. Additionally, they requested the identification of sand mines to be handed over to the investor under a specific mechanism and an early allocation of construction stone volumes to meet the project's progress.
Furthermore, the enterprise aimed to complete the appraisal of technical design dossiers in May 2026, including a transition from Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVD) to Cement Deep Mixing (CDM) for soft soil treatment to speed up progress, suitable for geological conditions where operation and construction occur simultaneously.
As prices for fuel and asphalt are rising and supply remains scarce, projects are at risk of suspension. The investor requested the Minister of Construction to direct subordinate units to record these issues based on the "actual cost" principle and state handling methods in the coming time. They also urged an early report to the Government for solutions to prevent ongoing projects from halting, which would cause loss and waste.
By Y PHUONG
Translated by X.QUANG
