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Unlocking the Traffic Gridlock: Three Key Infrastructure Projects Delayed Beyond Year-End Target

9 December, 2024

This year marks an important milestone for Ho Chi Minh City, with a series of key infrastructure and development projects slated to reach completion. These projects are designed to address the city’s long-standing traffic congestion issues and improve overall connectivity. However, several projects have encountered delays due to various reasons.

Among these delayed projects are three critical transportation initiatives located at the gateway to Tan Son Nhat Airport, which is considered the most congested area in the city.

The Phan Thuc Duyen – Tran Quoc Hoan underground tunnel, which was opened to traffic in August, is part of the 4.848 billion VND road project connecting to Tan Son Nhat Airport’s T3 terminal. Photo: Tuan Kiet

The first project, the Tran Quoc Hoan Road Construction Project, with a cost of over 4.8 trillion VND, began on December 24, 2022. This road will directly connect traffic from Hoang Van Thu Park and Truong Chinh Street to the T3 terminal of Tan Son Nhat Airport.

The project was expected to be completed by the end of this year, providing synchronized transportation access to the 11 trillion VND Tan Son Nhat International Airport’s T3 terminal. In addition to creating a new access route to the airport, this road will help alleviate congestion on Truong Son, Cong Hoa, Truong Chinh, and Lang Cha Ca intersection…

During a press conference on socio-economic issues held on November 28, Bui Hoa An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, stated that as of now, the project has only achieved 88% completion, falling behind schedule due to land clearance issues.

If the remaining land belonging to 68 households is handed over to the authorities by December 28, the project is expected to be completed by February 28, 2025.

The construction site of the Hoang Hoa Tham Road Expansion Project remains unfinished. Photo: Tuan Kiet

Similarly, the Hoang Hoa Tham Road Expansion Project has also missed its completion deadline, which was set for the end of 2024.

This project, with a length of nearly 800 meters and a width expansion from 8-10 meters to 22 meters, has an investment cost of approximately 300 billion VND. It starts at the military barracks gate (adjacent to the airport) and ends at Cong Hoa Street.

The project commenced in late May and was expected to be open to traffic by the end of the year. However, according to the Department of Transport, it has only reached 55% completion, falling short of the required progress due to insufficient land clearance. Additionally, 40% of the land involved belongs to the military, which prolongs the procedure.

The Tan Ky – Tan Quy Bridge Construction Project has postponed its opening until after the Lunar New Year in 2025. Photo: Tuan Kiet

Three kilometers away, the Tan Ky – Tan Quy Bridge Construction Project also faces obstacles and is unable to meet the expected completion deadline of the end of 2024.

With a length of 385 meters and a width of 16 meters (4 lanes for cars), this project started in early 2018 with an investment of 312 billion VND in a BOT format. It was initially planned to be completed by the end of 2018.

However, when the construction reached 70%, it was temporarily halted due to incomplete site clearance and compensation, as well as inconsistencies with Resolution 437 of the National Assembly, which prohibits BOT projects on existing roads.

On March 14, 2024, the project was restarted with a total investment amount of nearly 500 billion VND. This is the first project to adopt a new approach, transitioning from a public-private partnership (BOT) to a public investment model.

Currently, the project has achieved approximately 85% completion, and the main bridge is expected to be finished and open to traffic in January 2025, a slight delay from the initial plan of December 2024.

The project owner, the Ho Chi Minh City Transport Authority, attributed this delay to challenges in coordinating the relocation of the medium and low-voltage power grid and transformer substation at both ends of the bridge.

The expansion project of Tan Ky – Tan Quy Road failed to meet the deadline for opening to traffic at the end of November. Photo: Tuan Kiet

Near this project, the upgrading and expansion of Tan Ky – Tan Quy Road, with a length of 2km and a width of 30m, and a total investment of over 237 billion VND, was expected to be completed by the end of November. However, the project remains unfinished, and the new deadline is set for before the Lunar New Year in 2025.

12 contracts and projects to be completed before the Lunar New Year in 2025

According to Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Transport Authority, the project owners and contractors are focusing their efforts on accelerating construction progress and disbursement. Approximately 12 contracts and projects are expected to be completed and put into use before the Lunar New Year in 2025.

These include the Tan Ky – Tan Quy Road, Phuoc Long Bridge, HC1 Tunnel (part of the Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho Tunnel Project), the connecting road between Tran Quoc Hoan and Cong Hoa, Ba Hom Bridge, Ba Dat Bridge, etc.

Tuan Kiet