On April 29, the Khanh Hoa People's Committee announced that it had approved the Department of Finance's proposal to include the Tran Phu Tunnel project in the list of key public investment projects.
The project is planned to be implemented in two phases. Phase one will construct a tunnel from 86 Tran Phu Street to Nguyen Chanh Street. It will include two tunnel entrances between Tran Quang Khai and Le Thanh Ton Streets and two open-cut sections at the northern and southern ends, each approximately 230 meters long. The total length of the tunnel in this phase will be 1.4 km, with construction scheduled from 2025 to 2040.
Phase two will extend the tunnel by an additional 2.9 km along Tran Phu Street, from Hoang Dieu to Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, bringing the total length to 4.3 km. This phase will also include two more entry and exit ramps, with an estimated VND 4.385 trillion investment expected to be carried out after 2040.
The tunnel will be over 17.5 metres wide and feature four traffic and two maintenance lanes. Parking bays for pick-up and drop-off will be arranged at 250-500 metres intervals along the tunnel.
The project's main objective is to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure smoother travel, especially as tourist numbers continue to rise. It also aims to promote sustainable and green transportation, enhance pedestrian connectivity along the coastline, and support the development of the local tourism sector. The Department of Finance has recommended raising funding through ODA loans and other preferential credit sources to implement the project.
The provincial government has tasked Nha Trang City authorities to urgently complete the necessary documentation and submit it to the Department of Finance for consolidation before May 10.
Beachfront Tran Phu and Pham Van Dong streets in Nha Trang span over 20 km and are often crowded with tourists and heavy traffic, especially during peak hours and the summer holiday season.