A map of the planned Ring Road No 2 project in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of HCM City Department of Planning and Architecture

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has asked the municipal People's Committee to give priority to the early implementation of seven major traffic projects at the city's main gateways.

The department also wants the city Department of Planning and Investment to evaluate capital sources and capital allocation priorities for a medium-term public investment plan. The investment policies for the seven major projects are awaiting approval from the city’s People’s Council.

The first project is construction of two sections of the Ring Road 2 project connecting districts 2, 9 and Thủ Đức. The project is divided into four sections.

The 3.83km first section will cost VNĐ9.2 trillion (US$397 million) and run from Phú Hữu Bridge in District 9 to Hà Nội Highway in Thủ Đức District. The 2km second section extending from the first section to Phạm Văn Đồng Avenue in Thủ Đức District will cost VNĐ5.6 trillion ($242 million).

The second project is a new An Phú Intersection in District 2 worth more than VNĐ1 trillion ($43 million), which aims to reduce traffic congestion on HCMC- Long Thành - Dầu Giây Expressway between HCM City and Đồng Nai Province.

With an investment cost of nearly VNĐ1.5 trillion ($64.7 million), expansion of the National Highway No 50, the third project, will reduce congestion at the city’s southwestern gateway toward Long An and Tiền Giang provinces.

The fourth project is an upgrade of a section of National Highway No 22 from An Sương Intersection between Hóc Môn District and District 12 to Nguyễn Văn Bứa in Hóc Môn District worth VNĐ935 billion ($40.3 million).

The fifth project is construction of N 2 and N 4 bridges in Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area in District 2 with total capital of VNĐ198 billion ($8.5 million).

The sixth project is construction of a new Nguyễn Khoái Bridge connecting districts 1, 4 and 7. It will cost VNĐ2.5 trillion (nearly $108 million).

The 53.5km-long HCM City-Mộc Bài Expressway, the seventh project, will link Ring Road No 3 in HCM City’s Hóc Môn District with the Mộc Bài International Border Gate in the southern province of Tây Ninh.

The project worth nearly VNĐ13.6 trillion (nearly$587 million) will be divided into two investment phases.

It is expected to reduce overloading of vehicles on National Highway No 22 from HCM City to Cambodia via Tây Ninh Province.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has permitted the city’s People’s Committee to make decisions about the investment policy for the expressway project.

The HCM City and Tây Ninh Province authorities plan to complete site clearance and compensation for affected local residents next year and selection of investors before March next year. — VNS