The Mỹ Phước - Tân Vạn section of the Ring Road 3 that opened to traffic in 2015. The section will be upgraded at a cost of nearly VNĐ28.3 trillion to align with the entire ring road, which is set to be completed by 2026. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Nearly VNĐ28.3 trillion (US$1.1 billion) will be required to widen a 15.3 km section of Ring Road 3 that will connect HCM City and Bình Dương Province when constructed in the next few years.

The HCM City Department of Transport, which coordinates the various agencies responsible for the work, has submitted the proposal to the municipal People’s Committee.

The 15.3-km section, between Mỹ Phước and Tân Vạn Road in Bình Dương, opened in 2015, but the remaining portion will not be finished until at least 2026.

The proposal involves widening the constructed section to the same size as the entire proposed road.

The 32-metre, six-lane section will be widened by 16 metres and three lanes.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has approved public funding for it, and ordered the Ministry of Transport to work with the province to make specific plans for it.

Lương Minh Phúc, director of HCM City’s Management Board of Traffic Works Construction and Investment, said construction of the ring road only resumed in June last year after a prolonged delay due to site clearance and compensation issues.

The 90-km road will cost over VNĐ75.4 trillion (US$3.2 billion) and run through Đồng Nai and Long An provinces.

It will have six lanes and be designed for speeds of 80-100 km per hour, while two lanes will be designated for emergency stops.

A flyover will be built to connect the ring road with the HCM City - Long Thành - Dầu Giây expressway connecting HCM City and Đồng Nai Province. — VNS