The Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway has been approved for construction, however site clearance issues still loom.

World Bank and the Vietnam Expressway Corporation representatives discuss the expressway project

The People’s Committee of Da Nang has worked with representatives from the World Bank and the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) on issues regarding site clearance compensation and site clearance for the part of the Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway which will run through Da Nang.

As part of the discussion, the World Bank emphasised that the Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway construction project would play a very significant role in the economic development of Vietnam’s central region, especially of areas where the expressway will run.

According to site survey results made by VEC, a total of about 9.6 million square metres of land and 66.3 thousand square metres of houses will will need to be cleared for the project. In Da Nang, a total of 424 families living at Hoa Nhon, Hoa Phong and Hoa Tien communes will have to be moved.

The three communes in Da Nang have different site clearance schedules and policies. Also, existing site clearance policies of Vietnam and the World Bank are different, meaning a compromise must be met.

The Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway will be a total of 140 kilomtres in length and its surface will be 26 metres in width with 4 lanes. The project will require an estimated investment of VND29.2 trillion ($1.5 billion) in total. The World Bank has lent VND10.9 trillion ($576 million) of that cost.

Construction is expected to begin during the end of 2011 and take 4 years.