In the early 21st Century, Ho Chi Minh City planned to build fly-over routes with an aim of resolving traffic congestion. In ten years, this plan has never left the paper.
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| PM approves four planned fly-over routes |
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| Fly-over routes are aimed to resolve traffic congestion. (Illustrative photo) |
The idea had become an objective in 2005 which was a part of the Ho Chi Minh City’s transportation development planning up to 2020. Accordingly, the city will finish construction of the four fly-over routes in 2020 which will connect each other.
The Prime Minister previously approved the proposal by issuing Decision No. 101/QĐ-TTg on January 22, 2007. After that, the city announced the planning in public and called for investors to bid for building the four routes which are considered as dragons in the sky connecting areas and lessening traffic pressure in the city.
The plan drew the attention of many international organisations. On December 6, 2007, GS E&C Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the city about the investment feasibility of constructing the first route under a build-operate-transfer contract. But in February 2009, the company cancelled their proposal. According to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the reason was because they had financial difficulties and wanted to focus on the project connecting Tan Son Nhat, Binh Loi and the Outer road belt.
The feasibility of the 2nd route was studied by Wijaya Baru Global Berhad Company (Malaysia) and the 4th route was taken care of by the General Construction Company No 1 under the Ministry of Construction in February 2008.
However, to date, the feasibility report of the 2nd route has been made and the proposal of the 4th route has been finished.
In addition, the 2nd and 4th routes face difficulties in planning so they need to be postponed and wait for guidelines from the Government.
According to investors, the feasibility of the 2nd route is not high because it will effect the Hoa Hung Railway Station planning. Moreover, the route will cross over highly populated areas so site clearance expenditure will be very large.
The 4th route also faces the same dilemma of site clearance expenditures. In addition, it will effect planned areas that it would cross through.
The 3rd route hasn’t really received any attention.
Investors are working on researching other route directions which would be more feasible to submit to the city. The Government will decide direction changing of the 2nd and 4th routes proposed by the committee.
The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Construction to study the proposal. After finishing, they will submit a report to the Government.
Approved fly-over routes + Approved route 1: starting from intersection of Cong Hoa Road, Bui Thi Xuan, Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal and ends at Nguyen Huu Canh Road. Alternate Proposed routes + Proposed route 2: starting from the junction point with the 1st route at Bridge No. 5 of Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canel, Alley No.657 of Cach Mang Thang 8 Road, Bac Hai, Alley No.2 of Thien Phuoc, Alley No.654 of Au Co, Lac Long Quang, Dam Sen Park then Bau Trau small canal, Chien Luoc, Ma Lo, Huong Lo No.2 and National Road 1A. |