Vietnam - Road Network Improvement Project

The development objective of the Road Network Improvement Project is to improve the national road network through increased preventive maintenance and selective upgrading, and an increase in the level of resources available for road maintenance and capacity for planning, budgeting, and monitoring of road assets. The project has the following three components: Component A) Network Preservation Program - Periodic Maintenance on National Roads. The Network Preservation Program (NPP) will support the financing of the periodic repair of about 1,100 km of national roads under three annual periodic maintenance works programs to be executed in conjunction with Vietnam Road Administration (VRA's) medium and heavy repairs program. Project Management and Advisory Services. The NPP will include management and advisory services, including social and environmental monitoring and technical assistance, and design and construction supervision for civil works, and equipment. Pilot Program of Long -Term Performance Based Contracts. The NPP includes a pilot program for the use of performance-oriented maintenance contracts, to be designed during the first year of project implementation on the basis of international experience tailored to Vietnamese conditions. Component B) Network Improvement Program - Improvements on National Roads. The Network Improvement Program (NIP) will support the financing of three annual works programs consisting of the rehabilitation and widening of about 600 km of national roads in the north of Vietnam, including short bridges (less than 25 m long). Project Management and Advisory Services. The NIP will include management and advisory services, including social and environmental monitoring, and design and construction supervision for civil works, and equipment. Cost estimates include land acquisition and resettlement to be fully financed from counterpart resources. Component C) The Road Sector Management and Institutional Building Program (RSMIBP) will assist the Ministry of Transport (MOT) in strengthening institutional capacity for road sector management and finance by providing technical assistance, equipment, and training. Strengthening Road Maintenance and Finance will support the financing of studies on improving road maintenance financing and management; implementing a framework to improve cost recovery and planning, budgeting, and monitoring of maintenance on road assets. VRA Institutional Strengthening will support the financing of consulting services, goods and training as related to strengthening of VRA capacity for road asset management and maintenance delivery, Technical Assistance, Studies, and Audits will support the financing of consulting Services.