Ho Chi Minh City has approved four Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects aimed at upgrading key gateway roads, including National Highways 1, 13, 22, and the North-South axis road.

The total investment for these projects is approximately $2.4 billion, with road expansions reaching up to 12 lanes.

Massive investment to ease congestion at city entrances

On February 20, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council approved the investment plans for these four infrastructure projects as part of the city's execution of National Assembly Resolution 98.

The National Highway 13 expansion project, spanning from Binh Trieu Bridge to Vinh Binh Bridge, will include a 3.2-kilometer elevated section with four lanes, increasing the total road capacity to ten lanes. The estimated cost for this project is around $827 million, with approximately $237 million coming from private investors and the rest funded by the state budget.

The National Highway 22 upgrade, covering the section from An Suong Interchange to Ring Road 3, will be expanded to ten lanes, with a total investment of $413 million. Of this, approximately $166 million will be sourced from private investors, while the remaining will come from the city’s budget.

The North-South axis road upgrade, stretching 8.6 kilometers from Nguyen Van Linh Street to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, will cost around $392 million, with more than $185 million from the state budget and the remainder from private investors.

The National Highway 1 expansion, extending from Kinh Duong Vuong Street to the Long An provincial border, will increase to 10-12 lanes over a nearly 10-kilometer stretch. This project will cost an estimated $645 million, with more than $380 million funded by the government and the rest by private sector investors.

Road expansions to include elevated express lanes

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, the first phase will involve surveying investor interest and organizing bids to select suitable private partners.

All four projects will incorporate elevated road sections or high-speed urban corridors to improve traffic flow and cater to different transportation needs.

For high-speed travel, an elevated expressway with four lanes will be constructed, allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h, enabling seamless movement between the city center and major highways or ring roads.

In contrast, ground-level roads will be expanded to 6-8 lanes, ensuring smoother traffic flow within urban areas and improving local commuting conditions.

A unique feature of these BOT gateway projects is the toll collection model. Fees will only apply to vehicles using the express lanes on elevated roads. Meanwhile, residents who do not require high-speed travel can continue to use the expanded ground-level roads free of charge.

The city aims to break ground on these projects by the end of this year to ensure seamless connectivity with the expanding regional transportation network.

Ho Van