On the morning of August 15, during a working session with a government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee proposed that the central government provide financial support exceeding 27 trillion VND (approx. 1.12 billion USD) to implement two major transport infrastructure projects. These projects aim to improve regional connectivity between Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Southeast region.

Specifically, Dong Nai requested approximately 17.7 trillion VND (about 735 million USD) from the central budget for a 61-kilometer road connecting Ma Da Bridge to Ring Road 4 of Ho Chi Minh City.

The total estimated investment for this project is 23.8 trillion VND (approx. 987 million USD). The proposed route would pass through Dong Xoai Ward via provincial road DT753 and is expected to enhance interregional traffic flow following the administrative merger in Dong Nai.

Additionally, the province requested more than 9.3 trillion VND (approx. 387 million USD) in support to construct the Cat Lai Bridge, which would replace the overloaded Cat Lai ferry and connect Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai.

The bridge has a projected total investment of over 19 trillion VND (around 787 million USD) and would be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The design includes six lanes for motorized vehicles and two lanes for mixed traffic.

Dong Nai proposed dividing the Cat Lai Bridge project into four sub-projects. Land clearance responsibilities would be handled separately by Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai using local budgets.

The third sub-project, focusing on the main bridge structure, would be implemented as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model with provincial capital.

The fourth sub-project, which involves the connecting road from the toll station to the terminal point, could be financed by the provincial budget or developed through a land-for-infrastructure exchange (BT) model.

According to the provincial government, these two strategic projects, once completed, would alleviate traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City, shorten travel times across the Southeast region, and accelerate socio-economic development in the area.

Hoang Anh