VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City will need an investment of nearly VND1.9 trillion (over US$84.4 million) to renovate a section of National Highway No 1A at its western gateway in Binh Chanh District.

East-West Highway and Highway 1A Intersection is the first point of the East-West highway, connecting HCM City with southwestern provinces – (Illustrative image --Photo: Zing.vn)

A 9.6km section must be widened from 23.5 metres to 35 metres because it is currently an accident-prone spot, according to a feasibility study by the Viet Nam Investment for Urban and IP Development Corp. (IDICO).

It will become a six-lane highway with four earmarked for automobiles that can travel at 80km.

Construction will start in the second quarter of 2016 and take two years. It will cost VND1.89 trillion, including VND1.26 trillion for land.

To be done under BOT (build–operate–transfer) mode, the investor has sought permission to set up a toll station at the existing An Suong – An Lac Station.

Highway No 1A runs for 47km through HCM City. Its An Suong – An Lac section was widened to 36 metres while from An Lac to Long An Province it remains 23.5–25m wide and suffers from constant traffic congestion and many accidents.

VNS