Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway


The Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway Another name Noi Bai–Lao Cai Expressway is an expressway section of the Expressways of Vietnam, 265 km long and has its starting point at the intersection of National Highway 18 with National Highway 2 in Thanh Xuân commune, Sóc Sơn district], Hanoi city and the end point at Duyên Hải ward, Lào Cai, Lào Cai province, connecting with G8011 Kaiyuan–Hekou Expressway at Lào Cai International Border Gate. This Expressway is part of the Asian Highway Network and Transport infrastructure development project Kunming–Hanoi–Hai Phong economic corridor.
This route passes through 5 provinces and cities: Hanoi, Vĩnh Phúc, Phú Thọ, Yên Bái and Lào Cai.

Construction

Construction on the expressway began in 2009 with a total investment of US$1.46 billion. The Asian Development Bank provided a US$1 billion loan for development of the expressway. South Korean Posco Group won 3 of the 8 bids, China's Guangxi Road & Bridge Engineering won 2 bids and Vietnamese Vinacomex won one.
When it opened on 21 September 2014, it was the longest expressway in Vietnam. The Yên Bái to Lao Cai section of the route was opened as a two-lane expressway, the section between Yen Bai and Hanoi being a four-lane dual carriageway.

Route details

Lanes

  • Noi Bai–Yen Bai section: 160km long, with 4 lanes, 2 shoulder, maximum speed of 100km/h. There are 2 lanes in each direction, each lane is 3.75m wide and an emergency lane is 3m wide.
  • Yen Bai–Lào Cai section: 83km long, with 2 lanes, 2 shoulder, maximum speed of 80km/h. There are 1 lanes in each direction, each lane is 3.5m wide and an emergency lane is 2.5m wide. Every 8–10 km, there is a 1km-long 4-lane section for vehicles to pass each other.

Length

Total route length: 264 km

Speed

  • 2-lane section: Maximum: 80km/h, Minimum: 60km/h
  • 4-lane section: Maximum: 100km/h, Minimum: 60km/h
According to design, the maximum speed is 120 km/h. VEC will allow vehicles to run at a maximum speed of 120 km/h when ensuring safe conditions along the entire route.

List of interchanges and features