On July 8, Advisors Tran Chung and Bui Van Ha, representing the Advisory Council of DEOCA Group, inspected the implementation of the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang Expressway Project (Lang Son) and attended a thematic meeting on resolving site clearance issues organized by the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province.

As the initial section of the eastern North-South expressway axis, the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway Project has a total length of nearly 60 km, passing through 11 communes and wards in Lang Son Province, with a total investment of 11,029 billion VND. Beginning construction on April 21, 2024, the expressway directly connects to three international border gates: Huu Nghi, Coc Nam, and Tan Thanh.

The Advisory Council’s inspection took place when less than five months remained until the project’s target completion date for opening to traffic. Reporting to the Advisory Council, the Project enterprise representative stated that over 57.13 km of the alignment had been handed over. Contractors have mobilized 2,577 personnel, 1,146 pieces of equipment, and deployed 141 construction fronts across four packages. Cumulative output reached 1,858.95 / 6,580 billion VND (equivalent to 28.25% of the contract value).

The Advisory Council’s inspection took place when less than five months remained until the project’s target completion date for opening to traffic.

Many work items are being accelerated by contractors despite the constant need for additional labor and unpredictable weather. At the Km42+850 bridge area, although unaffected by the recent heavy rains, full-force construction has not yet been implemented due to incomplete site handover. Nevertheless, contractors are targeting completion of beam casting before October 30.

At the site, Advisor Tran Chung recommended that the Project enterprise work closely with contractors to adjust construction plans flexibly, make the most of dry periods after the rainy season to accelerate progress, while strictly ensuring work quality — especially for culverts and underpasses for local residents, given the complex terrain in this area.

Continuing along the service road, the advisors observed many positive changes to the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang construction site. The image of a modern expressway with large-scale investment, high technical standards, and urgent construction progress is becoming increasingly clear on the borderland of the Fatherland.

The Advisory Council recommended that contractors develop flexible construction plans during the rainy season to ensure the quality of the work.

The Km0+430 bridge, which crosses National Highway 1A and the railway, has been identified as a critical bottleneck due to the large remaining workload and some households yet to hand over the site. To ensure the on-schedule opening target, the Project Management Board proposed reducing certain work volumes and supplementing additional contractors to concentrate resources on this item.

After listening to the contractors’ opinions, the Advisory Council requested the Project Management Board to closely coordinate with relevant units to remove bottlenecks, ensure the progress of key items, and achieve the goal of opening to traffic in 2025.

On the same afternoon, the Advisory Council, together with DEOCA Group leaders and the Project enterprise, attended a thematic meeting organized by the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province. The meeting focused on resolving difficulties to accelerate site clearance for the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Border Gate Expressway and the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway, and considered the alignment plan for the bridge intersection between the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway and the planning of the Na Chuong - Binh Cam sub-area.

Overview of the meeting

According to the Project enterprise’s report, as of July 7, 2025, site clearance for the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Project had reached 97.6%. For the additional land acquisition area, 15.7 / 38.1 ha had been cleared, equivalent to 41.36%.

Remaining issues on the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway include: 13.51 ha on the main alignment and more than 22 ha of additional area still not cleared; 122 households yet to relocate their houses out of the project area; 40 technical infrastructure locations not yet relocated; and 8/44 spoil disposal sites without Site clearance.

For the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway section in Lang Son Province, 451.6/ 458.4 ha has been handed over, equivalent to 98%. Remaining issues include 6.81 ha on the main alignment not yet handed over, 5 technical infrastructure locations not relocated, and 3 spoil disposal sites without site clearance.

Additionally, the reorganization of the local government apparatus into a two-tier model from mid-June to early July 2025 has disrupted many operational activities, including a slowdown in site clearance work.

The Project enterprises proposed that the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province direct the Provincial Land Development Center and communes/wards to urgently complete site clearance in July 2025. The two Project enterprises also requested units assigned to build concentrated resettlement areas to accelerate construction, and for communes/wards to persuade households to relocate and hand over the site to contractors. Furthermore, the investors requested that communes/wards reimburse the advance payments made by the investors for compensation to affected households.

The Project enterprise representatives proposed that the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province direct the Provincial Land Development Center and communes/wards to urgently complete site clearance in July 2025.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Luong Trong Quynh – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province – requested communes and wards to demonstrate high responsibility in site clearance work, following the principle of not adhering rigidly to normal procedures but without violating regulations. Persistent communication and persuasion are needed to gain people’s support in handing over the site to contractors.

Regarding the advance funding provided by the project enterprises for compensation to affected households to secure the construction site, the Provincial People’s Committee assigned the Provincial Land Development Center to direct its branches to coordinate with investors in determining the actual value and reimbursing the Project enterprise.

ÔMr. Luong Trong Quynh – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lang Son Province – concluding the meeting.

The Provincial Land Development Center was assigned to coordinate with the project enterprises to work with each commune to verify the remaining area, clearly identify difficulties and obstacles, and hand over documents so that the commune’s People’s Committees can continue site clearance. For the relocation of technical infrastructure and handover of spoil disposal sites, the Provincial Land Development Center and communes must complete the work in July 2025.

News: Bac Hiep - Photo: Tuan Linh