Exciting News for Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City Residents: The 18.8 Trillion VND Cat Lai Bridge Project Set to Begin Construction, Ending Hours-Long Ferry Waits

The People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province has recently issued a document assigning Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1) as the investor to propose the Cat Lai Bridge project and its connecting roads under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

According to the decision, CC1 will independently cover all costs for preparing the investment proposal dossier, including expenses for receiving previously completed documents from the Provincial Project Management Board. The company will also bear full responsibility if the proposal is not approved by the competent authorities.

Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, Ho Van Ha, emphasized that the construction of the Cat Lai Bridge is an urgent necessity to replace the outdated Cat Lai ferry route, which dates back to the French colonial era and is now severely overloaded with over 40,000 vehicle crossings daily.

The project not only connects Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai but also holds strategic significance as the Long Thanh International Airport nears operation. Dong Nai aims to commence construction in 2026 and complete the project by 2028.

The Dong Nai People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Finance with appraising the proposal dossier, collaborating with relevant units to advise and submit it to the Provincial People’s Committee for consideration before seeking approval from higher authorities.

CC1 is required to evaluate and compare various PPP models, calculate the total investment, including compensation, land clearance, resettlement, and construction costs. They must also develop a detailed timeline, clearly defining the responsibilities of each unit and the implementation schedule, to be submitted to the Provincial Project Management Board by October 31, 2025.

Previously, on September 9, leaders of the Dong Nai People’s Committee met with CC1 to discuss investment proposals for two key transportation projects, with the Cat Lai Bridge identified as a strategic initiative to drive new development in the Southern Key Economic Region.

According to CC1’s proposal, the Cat Lai Bridge project will span over 11.6 km, starting on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street (Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City), approximately 400 meters from the My Thuy intersection, and ending at the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway. The total investment is estimated at 18.8 trillion VND (excluding interest costs).

The investor has presented three PPP options: Option 1: BOT combined with BT, paid through the state budget (recommended as the priority); Option 2: BT contract, fully paid by the state budget; Option 3: BT contract, paid with land funds.

The idea of constructing the Cat Lai Bridge has been studied for many years but faced delays due to funding and planning issues. With the surge in vehicle traffic and the imminent completion of Long Thanh Airport, the revival of the Cat Lai Bridge project is seen as a crucial step to enhance the transportation network in the Southeast region.