Under Prime Minister Decision No. 1948 dated October 7, 2026, a State Appraisal Council was established to appraise the project’s pre-feasibility study report and review its legal basis, investment necessity, scale, total investment, funding capacity and socio-economic efficiency.

Following directionss from the provincial People’s Committee, the provincial Transport Construction Investment Project Management Board selected a qualified and experienced consultant, the Transport Engineering Design Inc. (TEDI), to review, update and finalise the project’s pre-feasibility study report based on the existing dossier, results of the internal appraisal and feedback from relevant ministries and agencies.

The revisions focus on the alignment, project scale, technical standards, site clearance, environmental issues, total investment, funding sources, socio-economic efficiency and implementation arrangements.

The proposed route through Son La province would be about 179.5km long, starting at Km85+300 at the intersection with National Highway 43 in Van Son ward, connecting with the Hoa Binh–Moc Chau Expressway, and ending at Km264+800 in Muong Bam commune, bordering Dien Bien province.

The route would pass through 18 communes and wards and feature four lanes, a roadbed of about 22m, a design speed of 80 km/h, and continuous emergency stopping lanes. The project is expected to include about 34.5km of bridges, 14 grade-separated interchanges and one tunnel comprising two separate tubes with a combined length of about 1.3km, along with intelligent transport systems, tolling facilities, lighting, rest areas and traffic safety infrastructure.

The project is projected to require about 2,230 hectares of land and affect 1,045 households, including about 920 that need to be relocated. Around 28 resettlement sites would be developed across 13 communes and wards.

The preliminary total investment is estimated at 63.12 trillion VND (2.43 billion USD), funded by the central budget. About 44.18 trillion VND or 70%, is expected to be allocated in 2026–2030, with the remaining 18.936 trillion VND in 2031–2035. The project is expected to basically complete its main components by 2030.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Viet asked relevant departments and agencies to coordinate to promptly complete necessary documents, and prepare a solid basis for consultations with ministries and central agencies to ensure progress in appraising the pre-feasibility study report.

He also called for a thorough review of plans for land use, resettlement, funding and total investment, ensuring the project is well prepared, compliant with regulations and cost-effective, and providing a basis for its implementation in the coming period./.