Eligible for pilot expansion

The Ministry of Transport has just issued press information about the pilot construction of expanding sea sand to fill the roadbed at the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section project.

According to the Ministry of Transport, implementing the strategic breakthrough in infrastructure according to the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, right from the beginning of the term, the National Assembly and the Government have paid attention, focused on prioritizing many resources, issued many specific mechanisms to develop a modern transport infrastructure system, synchronously connecting inter-regions, creating momentum for socio-economic development of regions in particular and the whole country in general.

In particular, priority is given to investment in developing the expressway system with the goal that by 2025, the whole country will basically have about 3,000km of expressway put into operation, completing the Eastern North-South expressway.

In the Mekong Delta region alone, expressway projects are currently being implemented, such as: North-South expressway, Can Tho - Hau Giang, Hau Giang - Ca Mau sections; Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway; An Huu - Cao Lanh expressway and a number of other key projects. The total demand for sand filling materials is up to about 50 million m3.

"Although a special mechanism has been applied in the allocation of material mines, Government leaders regularly direct ministries, branches and localities with sand mines in priority areas to allocate, increase capacity and open new mines to serve the construction of projects. Localities have also actively implemented and identified about 37 million m3.

However, river sand resources and exploitation capacity still cannot meet the demand and construction progress," the Ministry of Transport informed, adding that in that context, the Government and the Prime Minister have directed the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to research alternative material solutions.

Including research on using sea sand as roadbed material in suitable areas.

Implementing the direction, the Ministry of Transport has closely coordinated with the Ministries (Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Construction, Science and Technology), localities, research institutes, experts, scientists to systematically, carefully, scientifically, objectively and implement the pilot project on the DT.978 repatriation section (in Bac Lieu province) of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau expressway.

The results show that the physical and mechanical indicators meet the standards for roadbed construction materials.

Construction of sea sand is carried out similarly to river sand. Up to now, there has been no sign of increased salinity in the surrounding environment, which is sufficient to expand the pilot construction.

"The Ministry of Transport has reported to the Prime Minister and notified localities of the results of the pilot use of sea sand; requested localities to pilot the expansion of the use of sea sand as roadbed for projects with environmental conditions similar to the pilot project, and consider applying standards on salinity tolerance of crops, agricultural land, and aquaculture water according to the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development," the press release stated.

Sand exploitation for pilot expansion from tomorrow

According to the Ministry of Transport, based on research, pilot construction and relevant instructions from specialized ministries, based on practical needs and the urgency of the need for sand to fill the roadbed of the North-South expressway project, Can Tho - Ca Mau section, ensuring completion by December 31, 2025, the Ministry of Transport will continue to organize pilot construction of the expansion.

On June 21, 2024, the People's Committee of Soc Trang province issued a Certificate of confirmation of area, capacity, volume, equipment method, plan and environmental protection in the exploitation of minerals for common construction materials to serve the construction of the North-South expressway project in the period of 2021 - 2025 (areas B1.1 and B1.2).

A week later, on June 28, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a decision to assign the right to use the sea area of ​​Soc Trang province to the construction unit to exploit sea sand to serve the construction of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau project.

"From tomorrow (June 29), the contractor will organize exploitation. It is expected that by July 1, 2024, the pilot construction of road expansion and embankment will be carried out," said the Ministry of Transport.

According to the plan, the pilot construction scope will be expanded from Km 81+000 to the end of the main route at Km126+223 (in Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province; Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province; Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province) and from Km6+522 to Km16+510 of the route connecting Ca Mau (in Thoi Binh, Tran Van Thoi and Cai Nuoc districts, Ca Mau province).

Regarding the management of sand exploitation and construction, the Ministry of Transport has directed the My Thuan Project Management Board and the construction contractor to organize management, exploitation and transportation in compliance with the provisions of the "Confirmation" issued by the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, the requirements and related legal regulations during the exploitation process, after the end of exploitation activities and ensuring maritime and waterway safety on transportation routes and environmental protection.

In order for the construction of sea sand to be smooth and not affect the environment and daily life of people in the area, the Ministry of Transport has also sent a document requesting relevant specialized ministries to provide timely guidance (when requested) so that the Ministry of Transport and investors can ensure the quality and progress of the project, and comply with regulations.

The People's Committees of Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces were also requested to direct the provincial authorities and the People's Committees of the localities where the project passes through to coordinate with the investor in inspecting, supervising and monitoring the process of organizing and implementing the pilot expansion of the project.

"The expansion of the pilot construction on the North-South Expressway project in the East is an important basis for the Ministry of Transport and localities to evaluate and expand the scope of using sea sand as roadbed material for expressway projects being implemented in the region," the Ministry of Transport affirmed.