Quang Ngai Province Discusses Design for National Highway 24 Upgrade Project

Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam held an urgent meeting with relevant agencies to discuss design plans for the National Highway 24 upgrade and expansion project, specifically for the section from Km32 to Km89+513. The meeting aimed to finalize the feasibility study report for the project. During the meeting, after detailed technical discussions and reviews, participants agreed that the project's primary objectives are to ensure quality and safety. Specific safety enhancements include the addition of runaway truck ramps on dangerous steep slopes. Measures for retaining walls and slope protection will be implemented, adapted to local geology and climate, to ensure the long-term durability of the infrastructure. Regarding environmental protection and budget efficiency, the plan prioritizes balancing excavated and backfilled earth volumes to minimize off-site soil disposal, thereby reducing costs and preserving the ecological landscape. The use of common materials and technologies will be encouraged to boost competitiveness in bidding and facilitate future maintenance. Technologically, the project will adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) from the design phase to enhance visualization, enable early detection of errors, and ensure strict progress control. Nguyen Phuc Nhan, Director of the Quang Ngai Department of Construction, instructed the consulting units to promptly incorporate feedback and make every effort to complete the feasibility study report by August 15, 2026. He also urged all parties to strengthen coordination and immediately resolve any emerging issues to avoid delaying the overall project timeline. The National Highway 24 upgrade and expansion project will span approximately 48.4 kilometers, passing through areas such as Ba To, Ba To, Ba Dinh, Ba Vi, and Kon Plong. The Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee officially approved the investment policy on April 15, 2026, via Decision No. 252/QD-UBND, with an estimated total investment of around 2.35 trillion VND (approximately $100 million USD). The project will be designed to meet national highway standards for mountainous regions, classified as Class III and Class IV roads according to the national transportation network plan. The implementation period is scheduled from 2026 to 2028. This project is considered a key transportation infrastructure development, intended to meet transport demands, ensure smooth traffic flow, minimize traffic accidents, and facilitate rescue operations. Furthermore, it is expected to strengthen strategic connectivity between western Quang Ngai Province and the South Central Coast region and the Central Highlands. This will open up significant trade opportunities with major seaports like Chu Lai and Dung Quat, and unlock the tourism and service potential of the Mang Den Ecological Tourist Area and the Bo Y International Border Gate Economic Zone.