Lam Dong: Three vital highways have three 'bottlenecks' that need to be resolved

DNVN – Three key expressway projects connecting Lam Dong with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast provinces are expected to create infrastructure breakthroughs. However, all three are currently facing difficulties in capital, site clearance and planning, requiring drastic solutions from the Central and local governments.

Many "bottlenecks"

Lam Dong is entering a new phase with major strategic infrastructure projects. The three expressways of Tan Phu – Bao Loc, Bao Loc – Lien Khuong and Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh not only have regional connectivity but are also the key to opening the door to tourism development, high-tech agriculture , trade and logistics.

Bao Loc - Lien Khuong Expressway started construction at the end of June 2025, but until now it has not been possible to implement investment and construction.

In particular, the two expressway projects Tan Phu – Bao Loc and Bao Loc – Lien Khuong are considered the “backbone” of the corridor connecting Lam Dong with Ho Chi Minh City, while opening a new strategic traffic route for the Central Highlands. The total investment capital of these two projects is up to more than 35,000 billion VND, but the actual implementation has not been as expected.

Tan Phu – Bao Loc Expressway is 66 km long, of which 11 km passes through Dong Nai and 55 km passes through Lam Dong. The route is designed with 4 lanes, the first phase operating speed is 80 km/h, expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The total investment capital is more than 18,000 billion VND, with the state capital participating in 6,500 billion VND, the rest is mobilized by the consortium of investors.

To date, the project has been approved for investment, completed site clearance, and implemented resettlement areas in Dong Nai and Lam Dong. However, the commencement of construction is still delayed due to overlapping with more than 224 hectares of land planned for bauxite mining. Capital issues also make the project difficult, as a part of the central budget has not been able to be disbursed, while the locality is under great pressure with 4,500 billion VND in counterpart capital.

Meanwhile, the Bao Loc – Lien Khuong expressway is nearly 74 km long, with a total investment of more than 17,700 billion VND, invested by the T&T – Phuong Trang (FUTA) – Phuong Thanh joint venture. The project started construction in June 2025, designed according to class A expressway standards, with a maximum speed of 100 km/h when completed.

Currently, the investor is conducting surveys, technical designs, and mine clearance. However, many resettlement areas in Bao Loc, Bao Lam, Di Linh, and Duc Trong have not been handed over, and are even facing opposition from local residents because they have not agreed on the compensation plan. The central government's planned support capital of VND2,500 billion still has no specific disbursement plan, making it difficult for localities to handle the site clearance.

If both projects are not resolved soon, the risk of missing the 2027 schedule is real. This means that Highway 20 will continue to be overloaded, and the dream of a complete expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat will have to be extended for many more years.

Unlike the two projects above, the North-South Expressway in the West, Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh section, has regional connectivity significance. The route passes through the former Dak Nong and Binh Phuoc provinces (now Lam Dong and Dong Nai provinces), playing the role of a new dynamic axis connecting the Central Highlands with the Southeast.

Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh Expressway has started construction on some component projects but progress is still sluggish.

The project was approved by the National Assembly in 2024, divided into many component projects. Of which, component project 2 (construction of a service road and an overpass in the old Dak Nong) has a total capital of more than 338 billion VND, while component project 4 (compensation and resettlement) has a capital of more than 662 billion VND.

Some packages have started construction since April 2025 but progress is still slow. Currently, the disbursement rate is only about 19%, many items are still stuck in the procedural stage.

The biggest bottleneck is the nearly 20km nematode range with the Nhan Co bauxite mine - which has been licensed for exploitation. The provincial People's Committee has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to soon give opinions to adjust the exploitation plan, but so far there has been no response. Until this overlap is resolved, the site cannot be handed over for construction, delaying the entire progress.

The delay in the Gia Nghia – Chon Thanh route not only affects Lam Dong but also has consequences for the entire North – South expressway network in the West. If this route is delayed, the formation of a transport corridor parallel to National Highway 14 (which is often overloaded) will be delayed, leading to many socio-economic consequences.

Need drastic intervention

In reality, all three expressway projects in Lam Dong are stuck at three “bottlenecks”: lack of timely disbursement of capital, overlap with mineral planning, and slow site clearance. Although the locality has made efforts to implement, without the support of the Government and ministries, progress will be difficult to ensure.

If the three expressway projects are completed on schedule, Lam Dong will have a complete expressway network, becoming the gateway connecting the Central Highlands with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast.

The early promulgation of decrees guiding laws related to PPP, bidding, and minerals; as well as specific mechanisms for capital allocation, will be the key to helping these projects "get off the ground".

If completed on schedule, Lam Dong will have a complete expressway network, becoming a gateway connecting the Central Highlands with the Southeast, creating a big boost for socio-economic development. On the contrary, if the delay continues, Lam Dong's infrastructure breakthrough opportunity will be missed, directly affecting the competitiveness of the entire Southern key economic region.

Transport experts say that when these three expressways are completed, they will completely change the infrastructure of Lam Dong and its surrounding areas. For example, the travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat will be shortened to about 3 hours instead of 6-7 hours as it is now. This will not only facilitate tourists but also help agricultural and industrial enterprises to easily transport goods.

According to calculations, the traffic volume on National Highway 20, especially during the peak tourist season, has exceeded its design capacity. The new expressways will help reduce pressure and improve traffic safety. At the same time, the appearance of the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway will open up a new transport corridor, connecting the Central Highlands with major seaports in the Southeast, creating advantages for agricultural exports.

Yuan You

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/doanh-nghiep/lam-dong-ba-cao-toc-huyet-mach-vuong-ba-diem-nghen-can-thao-go/20250915042605715