On February 1, the People's Committee of Binh Duong Province hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway section passing through Binh Duong.

The event also included the granting of investment approval and certification for domestic and foreign businesses.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, and other government officials attended the ceremony.

The expressway segment in Binh Duong spans approximately 52 km and is designed with six lanes for high-speed traffic, with a speed limit of 100 km/h.

It begins at the border between Thuan An City (Binh Duong) and Ho Chi Minh City (Ring Road 3) and extends to the Binh Duong-Binh Phuoc provincial border. Other sections of the project are being developed separately by Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Phuoc.

In its first phase, the project will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a four-lane expressway including emergency stopping lanes along the entire route. The roadbed width will be 25.5 meters.

Investment details and construction timeline

The project has a total investment of approximately 17.4 trillion VND, with 8.833 trillion VND allocated for construction through private investment under the PPP model. Land clearance costs amount to 8.53 trillion VND, of which 4 trillion VND is covered by the central government and 4.53 trillion VND by Binh Duong’s provincial budget. Construction is expected to take around 36 months, with the potential for early completion.

The consortium of investors includes Becamex IDC Corporation, Becamex Infrastructure Development Corporation (Becamex IJC), Becamex Binh Phuoc Infrastructure Development Corporation (BCMC), and Deo Ca Group.

The project is being executed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract, with an operation and toll collection period of 32 years and 5 months.

Strategic importance of the expressway

This expressway marks the first direct highway connection between Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Highlands. Once completed, it will link to the Chon Thanh - Gia Nghia Expressway (set to begin construction in September 2025), providing a continuous route to the Central Highlands.

Additionally, this is the first expressway in Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and driving socio-economic development.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed Binh Duong Province to review all procedures to ensure transparency, prevent corruption, and accelerate progress, aiming to complete the project by September 2, 2026 - one year ahead of the initial 2027 target.

He emphasized the need for high-quality construction, environmental safety, and proper resettlement for affected residents, ensuring their new living conditions are as good as or better than their previous homes.

Commitment to timely completion

Prime Minister Chinh urged contractors, consultants, and supervisors to work diligently, adhering to all regulations and maintaining high construction standards. He called for a rigorous work ethic, emphasizing a “no delays, no excuses” approach, with continuous construction shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Highlighting the project’s strategic significance, the Prime Minister stressed that while the expressway is vital for Binh Duong, it is even more critical for the Central Highlands.

“With this road, Dak Nong can escape poverty, and Binh Phuoc can achieve greater prosperity,” he stated.

He also directed Ho Chi Minh City to promptly invest in the 3-km segment within its jurisdiction and urged Binh Phuoc Province to expedite the 7-km section remaining in its area. The goal is to complete the entire expressway by 2025 to ensure seamless connectivity once the Binh Duong section is finished.

At the event, Binh Duong authorities also granted investment approvals and certifications for social housing projects and other developments with domestic and foreign capital.

Xuan An