A land area under-construction near Long Thành International Airport. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐỒNG NAI — The southern province of Đồng Nai has approved three routes at a cost of about VNĐ19.6 trillion (US$858 million) linking localities with Long Thành International Airport.

The three projects include a project to upgrade road ĐT 769 with a length of nearly 31km and an estimated investment of VNĐ1.6 trillion.

Road ĐT 773 will be extended by 51km. The total investment for the project is forecast at VNĐ5.5 trillion.

Road 770B will stretch over 53km. It requires an investment of VNĐ12.5 trillion, including VNĐ7.5 trillion as compensation for households who have to move to make way for the construction.

Nguyễn Bốn, deputy director of Đồng Nai Province’s Department of Transport, said the three projects were among priorities in the next five years.

Work to acquire land, draw up feasibility reports and organise contractor bids was underway so construction for the projects could begin in early 2023, he said.

Once completed, the routes will connect Định Quán, Thống Nhất, Cẩm Mỹ districts and Long Khánh City with Long Thành International Airport and ease pressure on National Highway 1A, Highway 20, Highway 51, Belt Road 4, and the HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway.

According to Bốn, the demand for road connectivity in Đồng Nai Province is an urgent issue as it will be synchronised with the major international airport, which is set to start operation in 2025.

The airport is designed to have four runways, four passenger terminals, and other auxiliary facilities to ensure a capacity of 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo a year by 2040.

Covering a total area of more than 5,580 hectares, the airport will straddle six communes in Long Thành District. It is expected to cost VNĐ336.63 trillion ($14.7 billion), with the first phase needing over VNĐ109 trillion.

Located 40km to the east of HCM City, Long Thành airport is expected to relieve overloading at Tân Sơn Nhất international airport in the southern metropolis, now the country’s largest airport. — VNS