HCM City authorities have asked for the Prime Minister’s permission to urgently build a flyover bridge instead of following normal protocol, which could delay construction until next year.

The Cong truong Dan chu six-way intersection in HCM City is under tremendous traffic pressure as congestion occurs throughout the day.

If approved by the PM, the flyover over the Cong truong Dan chu six-way intersection could be completed this year and partly address the worsened congestion at one of the main traffic spots of the southern city.

The VNĐ280 billion (US$12.4 million) flyover is designed to be 270m long, connecting Vo Thi Sau and 3/2 streets. The bridge can be used by both motorbikes and cars, according to the city authorities.

The HCM City People’s Committee already approved the project early this year, yet construction can officially begin only next summer according to normal protocol. 

With a construction period of at least six months, it means the bridge would open to traffic at the earliest by late 2018.

The Cong truong Dan chu intersection, meanwhile, is under increasing traffic pressure as it is the connecting point to other thoroughfares such as Cach mang Thang Tam, Vo Thi Sau and 3/2. Heavy traffic is reported throughout the day, particularly from 6am to 8pm.

In another move, the city Department of Transport on Tuesday agreed to build a new road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan and Cong hoa streets in Tan Binh District as part of a series of projects aimed at reducing traffic jams in the Tan Son Nhat airport area.

The new road is expected to cost VNĐ1.4 trillion, with six lanes stretching over 4.3km.

It is one of the six priority projects that the HCM City transport department has requested permission to invest in this year due to traffic congestion in the area around the Tan Son Nhat Airport. 

The other five projects are two new flyovers, the expansion of Hoang Minh Giam and Hoang Hoa Tham streets and renovation of Cong hoa Street.

Estimated investment for the six projects is VNĐ2.68 trillion. 

VNS