Heavy traffic on Kênh Tẻ Bridge which connects HCM City’s districts 4 and 7. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Linh

HCM CITY — District authorities have been urged to complete site compensation, resettlement and handover of land to speed up the progress of major traffic projects this year.

Lương Minh Phúc, director of HCM City’s Management Board for Traffic Works Construction and Investment, has said district leaders would be held responsible for activities related to compensation and land handover.

The city plans to complete 29 traffic projects and start construction on 27 new traffic projects this year in an aim to reduce traffic congestion and develop connections between the city and neighbouring provinces, according to the Management Board.

It has kicked off 13 major traffic projects with total investment of VNĐ3.5 trillion (US$149.12 million), according to the Management Board.

At the end of April, work started on the six-lane 75m long Mỹ Thủy 3 bridge project in District 2 (under the Mỹ Thủy intersection project which has total investment of VNĐ2 trillion). 

The bridge will have 250m long access road, sidewalk, drainage and lighting system. 

After completion, the bridge will be linked to Mỹ Thủy 1 and Mỹ Thủy 2 bridges and is expected to ease congestion near Cát Lái Port in District 2.

On April 20, work also started on a project to expand the 2.8km Đồng Văn Cống road (from Giồng Ông Tố bridge to Mỹ Thủy intersection in District 2). The road surface will be expanded by seven metres, and two more lanes of traffic will be added.

When completed after nine months of construction, Đồng Văn Cống road will have 10 lanes for cars and two for motorbikes and will be connected to Mỹ Thủy 3 bridge, which will be expanded. This will help reduce congestion near Cát Lái Port. 

On April 22, work started on the first phase of the underground tunnel at the intersection of Nguyễn Hữu Thọ - Nguyễn Văn Linh streets in District 7 with an investment of VNĐ830 billion.

In addition, a project to build a pedestrian bridge in front of the new Eastern Bus Station on Hà Nội Highway in District 9 and an underpass under the new Bus Station project will have a total investment of nearly VNĐ440 billion.

A project to renovate Nước Đen canal near Tham Lương canal and another to expand Hoàng Hoa Thám Street are also being implemented.

In addition, the city plans to complete the 64km belt road No 2 linking provinces and cities this year. To date, 50km has been completed and put into operation. Of the remaining sections, 3km of the belt road is being implemented under the BT model.

In addition, the Thủ Thiêm Bridge No 2 project is slated to be put into use in the third quarter of the year. The bridge will shorten the travel time from District 1 to District 2 and help ease congestion on Tôn Đức Thắng and Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh streets.

In addition, nine projects will be implemented near Tân Sơn Nhất airport area, including three new overpasses, expansion of Hoàng Minh Giám Street, and upgrade of Cộng Hòa Street after the land is handed over.

Traffic connections between HCM City and neighbouring provinces play an important role in the economic development of the southern area. 

Trần Quang Lâm, director of the city’s Transport Department, said priority would be given to projects for belt roads, highways and urban railways. — VNS