North-South Expressway set to open full route by April 30; 12 component projects to be operational in April

North-South Expressway is scheduled to be fully opened by April 30, with twelve component projects expected to be connected and commissioned within April. The goal is to enable uninterrupted travel along the entire route ahead of the April 30 and May 1 holidays.

The announcement was made by Mr. Nguyen The Minh, Deputy Director of the Economic - Investment Management Department, at a press conference held by the Ministry of Construction on the afternoon of April 9.

Construction progress and remaining work

Projects that started in early 2023 have reached eight completions to date, and some sections are reported to be ahead of schedule.

The remaining four projects are located in the Central region, with a combined length of 268 km. Several segments—Quang Ngai to Hoai Nhon, Hoai Nhon to Quy Nhon, Quy Nhon to Chi Thanh, and Chi Thanh to Van Phong—were technically opened in late 2025 but have not yet been put into operation due to difficult terrain and soil conditions.

As of now, about 256 km of the Central-region work has been completed. The remaining roughly 12 km, mainly in the Chi Thanh to Van Phong section, is still under construction because of weak soil that requires additional technical treatment.

Planned commissioning timeline

Under the plan, starting from mid-April, the sections from Quang Ngai to the Cu Mong tunnel in the south will begin operation. The remaining sections are expected to be completed within the month, supporting full connectivity by the peak travel period.

Rising input costs and contract adjustment mechanisms

At the same press conference, concerns were raised about input costs increasing sharply, particularly fuel and building materials. A representative of the Ministry of Construction said local authorities have been urged to stabilize prices and curb hoarding and price hikes of construction materials.

The ministry also emphasized that the publication of price indices and construction cost indices must be updated promptly and closely aligned with market conditions. These indices are intended to serve as the basis for adjusting estimates, payments, and contracts for contractors. For contracts that include price adjustments, the handling mechanism depends largely on these updates.

For fixed-price or lump-sum contracts, cost adjustments will only be considered in special cases under regulations, such as force majeure. The Ministry of Construction requested localities to assess impacts comprehensively in order to propose appropriate policy at a macro level.

Sector targets and policy direction

From a governance perspective, Mr. Nguyen Tri Duc, Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Construction, said the construction sector continues to target two-digit growth, describing it as a strategic requirement to sustain rapid and sustainable development.

To achieve this, public investment projects—especially infrastructure—will remain a key driver. The ministry aims to keep public investment disbursement above 95%, generating spillovers to other sectors and attracting additional private capital.

In parallel, the sector is restructuring toward modernization, focusing on new materials, energy efficiency, and applying digital technology in design, construction, and project management. Market regulation of materials and real estate is also being strengthened to help ensure supply-demand balance.

Tử Kính (According to Government News).