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Three years, $255 million: HCMC-Moc Bai expressway overruns original cost estimate

By Gia Minh September 11, 2022 | 12:22 am PT

Moc Bai border gate between Vietnam and Cambodia. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

The latest cost estimate for the expressway between HCMC and Moc Bai border gate with Cambodia is VND16.73 trillion ($709.9 million), up VND6 trillion ($255 million) from late 2019.

HCMC People’s Committee mentioned the estimate in a pre-feasibility report submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The HCMC - Moc Bai expressway was estimated to cost VND10.7 trillion in late 2019 and increased to VND15.9 trillion in May last year.

The 53.5-kilometer (33.2-mile) expressway, connecting Moc Bai District in Tay Ninh Province with Ho Chi Minh City, will have at least four lanes allowing maximum speeds of 120 kph (74.6 mph), according to the pre-feasibility report.

It will be constructed as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project with the investor recouping investment over 18 years and one month. Site clearance is expected to begin the fourth quarter of 2023 and construction in 2024 and be completed in 2027.

The HCMC - Moc Bai Expressway will play a vital role in connecting HCMC with Cambodia, and release traffic congestion on the National Highway No. 22, the only road connecting HCMC and Tay Ninh at this time.