Dream come true

Four years ago, the idea of ​​building the first expressway in the Central Highlands connecting the capital of the region, Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak province) with Nha Tranh city (Khanh Hoa province) to replace the narrow and winding National Highway 26 was first proposed by Dak Lak province to the Government's working group on September 16, 2019. But even the most optimistic people at that time thought it would take another decade for this idea to become a reality.

But from this bold and reasonable proposal of the locality, the authorities have embarked on the project with a spirit of urgency and seriousness to create development momentum for the Central Highlands. On June 16, 2022, after considering the Government's proposal, the 15th National Assembly issued Resolution No. 58/2022/QH15 on the investment policy of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Construction Project, Phase 1.

According to Resolution 58, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway project has a total investment of VND 21,935 billion, with a total length of 117.5km (the section through Khanh Hoa is more than 68km long; through Dak Lak province is more than 48km long). The project starts at the intersection of National Highway 26B and National Highway 1, Nam Van Phong port area, Khanh Hoa province, and ends at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh road, the eastern bypass of Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province. When completed, the route will be half the length of National Highway 26, because it complies with the Government's motto of "going through mountains to make tunnels, going through ravines to make bridges, creating the shortest route".

Exactly one year after the National Assembly Resolution, the Government organized the groundbreaking ceremony for the first highway along the Central Highlands axis. Right before the groundbreaking ceremony (June 18), Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak provinces handed over 71% of the project site. The remaining part will be handed over in 2023.

Krong Pac district is the locality with the longest expressway in Dak Lak, up to 33/48km through the province. Ms. Dam Thi Dao, a resident of Ea Kenh commune, shared: “Everyone here agrees to cooperate in handing over the land for the project. I didn’t expect everything to happen so quickly! We look forward to the road being completed soon, because everyone will benefit from this road.”

The road of desire

As a business operator, Mr. Le Duc Huy, General Director of Simexco Dak Lak Company, said that previously, the company had to transport exported coffee over 400km by road to Ho Chi Minh City for export. With the new road, coffee only takes more than 2 hours to travel over 100km of highway to Nha Trang. "We have high expectations for this project, because it not only creates favorable conditions for trade but also contributes to attracting many customers and investors to Dak Lak," said Mr. Le Duc Huy.

The Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project is investing in the section Km0+000 - Km7+700 (North - South Expressway interchange) with a scale of 4 completed lanes, cross-section of 24.75m; the section Km7+700 - Km117+500 (end of the route) with a scale of 4 limited lanes, cross-section of 17m. The progress requires the basic completion of some sections with high traffic volume in 2025 and synchronous operation in 2027.

According to the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway will be a strategic route, playing an important role in awakening and exploiting the potential of eco-tourism in the Central Highlands and connecting the Central Highlands with the South Central Coast.

Initial calculations show that when put into operation, this project will impact the economic development of localities and attractive regions by about 0.9-2.1%, an average of 1.5%. For tourism, it will shorten travel time for visitors and help develop outstanding links connecting the "forest" with the "sea".

“We call this the ‘Road of Aspiration’. For the first time, the Central Highlands has such a wide and short road to the sea. This important national project is of special significance to socio-economic development, contributing to the further development of Dak Lak in particular and the Central Highlands in general,” emphasized Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee Pham Ngoc Nghi.