Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu Receives ADB Mission to Discuss Key Transport Projects
(DTO) On the morning of July 17, the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee hosted a working session with a mission from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The discussions focused on Phase 1 of the Coastal Road Project — connecting Dong Thap (formerly Tien Giang), Tay Ninh (formerly Long An), and Vinh Long (formerly Ben Tre) provinces — and the Southern Tien River Road Infrastructure Project.
The meeting was chaired by Provincial People's Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu.
According to Provincial Transport Project Management Board Deputy Director Tran Minh Trung, provincial agencies worked with the ADB mission from July 13–17. Both sides reached a consensus on many issues in line with Vietnamese regulations and ADB requirements. However, several matters still require further consultation, including contract packaging and implementation schedules.
Deputy Director Tran Minh Trung said the Coastal Road Project will span approximately 23 kilometers with a total investment of over VND 7.095 trillion ($280 million). The project will be financed through an ADB loan of around VND 4.136 trillion and local counterpart funding of VND 2.958 trillion. The feasibility study has been completed, appraised by the Ministry of Construction, and is currently undergoing final review by the provincial Department of Construction before submission to the Provincial People's Committee for approval.
Boundary marker handovers for site clearance are expected to be completed by July 2027. The Project Management Board is expediting all necessary documentation to ensure the fastest possible progress, with construction scheduled to break ground in the first quarter of 2027.
Regarding the Southern Tien River Road Infrastructure Project, the Provincial People's Council has approved its investment policy. The project has a total investment of over VND 5.147 trillion, including VND 3.063 trillion in ADB loans and VND 2.083 trillion in provincial counterpart funding. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, while site clearance and technical design are scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2027, with construction targeted to commence in the fourth quarter of 2027.
At the meeting, Senior Transport Specialist Yoko Takebayashi, head of the mission from the ADB’s Transport Sector Office (Sectors Group 1), praised Dong Thap's Coastal Road section as the most advanced project of its kind in the Mekong Delta. The Senior Specialist commended the province's proactive efforts and noted that the ADB mission is proposing the use of low-carbon materials and the enhancement of bridge asset management and maintenance capacity.
Addressing the meeting, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu instructed the Project Management Board to work closely with consultants to optimize traffic flow designs for intersections along the route to ensure maximum safety.
On geological engineering, he requested a comprehensive review of geotechnical surveys to ensure they fully satisfy technical requirements for bridge design and construction under current regulations.
Regarding procurement, Vice chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu emphasized that contract packaging should be carefully considered to balance technical requirements with the central government's investment management orientation. Endorsing a green, eco-friendly development approach aligned with net-zero goals, he instructed the Project Management Board to integrate these green criteria into bidding documents from the outset to allow contractors to prepare appropriate eco-friendly solutions.
In the process of drafting proposals, completing procedures, and organizing bidding, Vice Chairman Nguyen Thanh Dieu urged the board to leverage expertise from seasoned consultants to minimize subsequent revisions and fast-track the project.
By M. THANH
Translated by X.QUANG
