Southern Gateway of Ho Chi Minh City: Optimized Design, Non-Stop Flow

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has recently approved the regulations for an architectural design competition targeting two strategic intersections under the North-South Axis Road Upgrade Project. This initiative aims to enhance traffic capacity and complete the infrastructure of the city’s southern gateway.

These two intersections are pivotal, serving as critical links between the southern region of the city and major highways. They are expected to significantly reduce congestion in the areas of Nha Be, Hiep Phuoc, and Tan Hung communes.

The Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho intersection comprises three main routes. The Nguyen Van Linh route, approximately 1km long, stretches from the entrance of RMIT University, crosses Tu Dinh Bridge, and ends near the Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Phan Chanh intersection. It connects residential areas and industrial zones. The Nguyen Huu Tho route, 1.4km long, runs from D6 intersection to D1 intersection (Phuoc Kien junction, Nha Be commune), directly linking key roads in the former Nha Be district. The Le Van Luong route, 0.8km long, extends from the Le Van Luong – Nguyen Huu Tho intersection to Rach Dia 1 Bridge, enhancing the connectivity between the inner city and the southern area.

The Nguyen Huu Tho intersection with the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, 0.78km long, includes the Nguyen Huu Tho section from Km7+820 to Km8+600 and the ramp (Ramp A) from the toll station to Km8+112. This design ensures seamless, uninterrupted travel between the expressway network and urban roads.

Both intersections are designed as multi-level, interconnected, and non-stop systems to ensure smooth traffic flow, reduce congestion, and provide complete connectivity between Tan Hung Ward, Nha Be Commune, and Hiep Phuoc Commune. The total land area for the project is approximately 32.63 hectares, with 24.09 hectares in Tan Hung Ward and the remainder in Nha Be and Hiep Phuoc communes.

The architectural design competition aims to select an optimal, modern, and unique design that meets technical requirements while creating an architectural highlight for the southern gateway. The total prize value is 300 million VND, including a first prize of 150 million VND, a second prize of 100 million VND, and a third prize of 50 million VND. The decision took effect on November 28 and will conclude upon approval of the competition results.

The North-South Axis Road Upgrade Project spans 8.6km with a 10-lane capacity and a total investment of nearly 9.9 trillion VND, divided into two components. Component 1, with a budget of 3.596 trillion VND, focuses on constructing the two intersections, allocating 2.4 trillion VND specifically for these structures.

Previously, Ho Chi Minh City invested 830 billion VND in building two underground tunnels at the Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho intersection to alleviate congestion. Component 2, implemented under a BOT model, includes a 6.6km elevated road with 4 lanes and parallel roads on both sides with 3 lanes, aiming to complete the North-South axis to modern standards.