VietNamNet Bridge – Traffic congestion around Tan Son Nhat International Airport has persisted for a long time. However, the busiest airport in the country may see much-needed improvements with three proposed projects costing a total of VND15 trillion (US$660 million).

Traffic jams happen so often around the area of Tan Son Nhat International Airport recently. — Photo: VNA/VNS

The first one consist of a major elevated highway (termed No 1), that will be 10km long and 17.5m wide with four lanes, proposed by a city infrastructure company. This project takes the lion’s share of the $660 million, with estimated cost currently standing at VND13 trillion ($572 million).

The highway would start from Cong Hoa intersection in Tan Binh District and run to the Phan Xich Long-Dien Bien Phu intersection in Binh Thanh District.

At a recent conference, Minister of Transport Truong Quang Nghia has urged facilitating the progress of the project as it holds significant benefits for traffic around the airport.

The project was previously entrusted to a South Korean company to implement, under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, however, the company later withdrew from the project, saying it was not capable. Another company proposed its implementation plan but later ended its involvement in the project.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has directed HCM City People’s Committee to seek opinions from concerned agencies to submit the final plan for review by the Prime Minister.

“In a special case an investor must be chosen, the city must explain in detail the technical details and financial requirements of the project, its economic benefits, as well as a detailed plan in selecting an investor,” Dung said.

The second project, an elevated road system aimed at reducing congestion in the airport area (Tan Binh District), was put forth by a Ministry of Defence investor and a private company.

The system will comprise of a 2.1km overpass ending at the airport’s international terminal (Terminal 2), the rebuilding of an overpass running past the domestic terminal (Terminal 1), and another overpass between Viet Nam Airlines’ canteen and the airport, to Thang Long Road, then connecting with two branches at the Hoang Van Thu-Nguyen Van Troi intersection.

The total length of the network would be 3.24km, with a four-lane overpass, allowing maximum safe speeds of 40-60km/h. The cost of the project is currently estimated at VND2.585 trillion ($113.7 million), 17.2 per cent of which (VND446 billion, or $19.6 million) is allocated to land clearance compensation.

The third proposed project is a 785m two-lane tunnel at Hoang Van Thu-Nguyen Van Troi intersection (Tan Binh District). The total investment reached VND370 billion ($16.28 million).

The city authorities said the latter two are also being considered. 

VNS