In recent years, Da Nang has been devoting a lot of resources to infrastructure construction, especially transport infrastructure, thereby creating a driving force for economic growth and investment attraction, and developing Da Nang into a central urban area of Central Viet Nam.

The city's transport infrastructure is increasingly invested synchronously. Photo: T.L

Synchronous transport infrastructure enhances inter-regional connection

With the central location of the Central Key Economic Zone and the Pacific gateway for the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), Da Nang has been focusing on implementing a number of projects on constructing, upgrading and expanding inner-city roads, as well as developing transport infrastructure towards synchronous and inter-regional connectivity.

Aside from key roads connecting with the North-South expressways, the urban transport infrastructure is planned well and modernly.

In 2022 alone, Da Nang poured more than VND1,529 billion into traffic infrastructure.

Regarding aviation, Da Nang International Airport is among top 3 largest airports in the country. Till date, the city has restored 23 flight routes, including 15 international and 8 domestic ones. It welcomed more than 20,000 flights in the first 6 months of 2023, with more than 3.17 million passengers.

Up to now, the city’s road transport network has been relatively complete. As of late 2022, the city had 2,694 routes with a total length of 1,554.401km; in which 37.965km of expressway; 120.989km of national highway; 68.713km of provincial roads; 1,171.994km of urban route; 110.74km of district and commune roads; and 43.996km of special purpose roads (excluding highways, alleys and rural roads) and 75 bridges with a total length of over 25m.

Particularly, the EWEC route from Da Nang to Myanmar’s Mawlamyine City, with a length of 1,450 km, passing through four countries, has created favourable conditions for strengthening economic cooperation relations, and promoting trade exchange and investment activities among countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

According to the municipal Department of Transport, in connection with localities in the Central Key Economic Zone, the North-South expressway route through the territory of Da Nang has basically formed the alignment. The length of the section running through Da Nang is about 50km, acting as a North-South axis connecting Da Nang with provinces in Central Viet Nam such as Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.

In addition to the expressway network, Da Nang has 119.27 km of national highways, including the Hai Van Pass passing through Da Nang with a length of about 11 km.

Besides, the National Highway 14B plays a major role in connecting to the Tien Sa Port with National Highway 1A and North-South Expressway. At the same time, from the highway or National Highway 1A, it is possible to access Da Nang International Airport through two main urban axes including Ba Na - Suoi Mo axis, Hoang Van Thai, Dien Bien Phu and Nguyen Tri Phuong streets and National Highway 14B and Nguyen Huu Tho. There is a national railway network system running in the north-south direction, connecting major cities in Viet Nam along the coastline.

Promoting investment in transport infrastructure

According to Director of the municipal Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung, up to now, Da Nang has five key modes of transport, including air, road, railway, sea and inland waterways.

Many outstanding traffic works have become symbols, showing the dynamic development of the city. From now until 2025, the municipal government will continue to determine priority resource allocation for transport infrastructure, identifying transport infrastructure as a breakthrough in development.

In the coming time, Da Nang will continue to implement a project on upgrading and expanding National Highway 14B; the La Son - Tuy Loan expressway project, (11km Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan section); and the T1 passenger terminal expansion project.

In the near future, VND1,203 billion will be poured into the building of a coastal road connecting the soon-to-be-constructed Lien Chieu Port with National Highway 1A (a bypass route to south of the Hai Van Tunnel). The would-be route has a length of about 2.59km, a width of 30m and 6 lanes, aiming to promote the city's goods trade with other regions across the country as well as around the world.

For aviation, Da Nang has sought permission to upgrade and extend several other parts of the nation's third largest airport for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2050.

In particular, the annual passenger transport volume by 2030 will reach 25 million and 30 million by 2030 and 2050 respectively. Meanwhile, the annual freight output will hit 100,000 tonnes by 2030 and 200,000-300,000 tonnes by 2050.

The city's transport infrastructure system is increasingly complete to create a logistics service supply chain in the central region and international transshipment.

Currently, relevant agencies are accelerating the construction of the shared infrastructure of Lien Chieu mega-port project, and the handling of procedures to start construction of a route connecting Lien Chieu port with National Highway 1A south of Hai Van Tunnel.

Furthermore, great efforts have been made by the transport sector to speed up the implementation of the western ring road project from National Highway 14B to Ho Chi Minh Road, and the western ring road No.2, as well as complete the appraisal of the feasibility study report for the Hoa Nhon Logistics Center project.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG