HCMC to prioritize 59 transport projects at $9.5B cost

The city Department of Transport has said this in a plan for key transport projects to be implemented in 2024-30 it submitted to the People’s Committee on Friday.

On the list are four expressways, including two proposed new ones to Moc Bai District in Tay Ninh Province on the Cambodian border and Chon Thanh District in Binh Phuoc Province through Binh Duong Province.

The other two, the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway to Dong Nai Province and the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong expressway to the Mekong Delta will be widened.

Sections of national highway Nos.1, 13 and 22A running through the city will be upgraded and widened at a cost of VND34 trillion.

Another VND14 trillion is required to complete Ring Road No.2 connecting districts 2, 7, 8, 9, 12, Binh Tan, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon, and Binh Chanh to ease the chronic traffic congestion in inner areas by allowing container trucks to take the beltway.

Work started on the project in 2017 but remains unfinished due to funding issues.

Another project on the list is the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge between the namesake urban area in Thu Duc City and District 7, which is expected to plays a critical role in enhancing connectivity with the southern part of the city.

The department expects public funding to cover 67.8% of the required amount for the 59 projects.

As of November 2023 the road density in the city was 2.38 km per square kilometer, which is much lower than the standard of 10-13.3 km/km2.

The city has nearly 9.2 million cars and motorcycles, 4.69% more than a year ago.

Its transport infrastructure is insufficient considering its status as the country’s economic hub.