Dong Nai Proposes to the National Assembly for Investment in Transportation Infrastructure to Alleviate Congestion

​(News Portal – Dong Nai) – Recently, during a working session between National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee regarding the socio-economic situation and the Long Thanh International Airport Project, Dong Nai made several proposals concerning the investment in the province's transportation infrastructure system. 

A supervision delegation from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and provincial leaders conducted an on-site inspection of traffic safety at the Vung Tau intersection. 

Investment in Interchanges on National Highway 51

Addressing issues related to the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, provincial leaders stated that this expressway is a primary connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh Airport. The expressway, operational since 2015 with four lanes, frequently experiences traffic congestion. Therefore, to promptly address traffic congestion and meet future travel demands when Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational, Dong Nai proposes that the National Assembly urgently invest in expanding the route to 10 lanes from Ho Chi Minh City to the junction with the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway to accommodate demand upon the airport's launch. ​

Regarding the investment in interchanges on National Highway 51, Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Tan Duc noted that traffic at the interchanges on National Highway 51, especially the Vung Tau intersection and the area around Gate 11, is extremely complex with frequent traffic jams. Additionally, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, with a starting point connecting with Vo Nguyen Giap Road (approximately 1km from Gate 11 and 6km from the Vung Tau intersection), is expected to be operational by 2026. The anticipated vehicle flow will significantly increase, leading to more severe congestion at Gate 11 and the Vung Tau intersection.

To address the traffic congestion and safety issues at these interchanges, which are expected to worsen, Dong Nai proposes that the National Assembly approve investment in these two interchanges through the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, continuing to utilize the toll station on National Highway 51 to fund the interchange at Gate 11 and the Vung Tau intersection. The estimated total investment for Phase 1 is 6,044 billion VND.

If BOT investment is not feasible, the province requests that the National Assembly consider public investment funding for the two interchanges and support with 3,197 billion VND from central government funds, with the local government funding 2,847 billion VND for land clearance.

Early Investment in Railway Connectivity

Regarding the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway Project, Acting Chairman Vo Tan Duc highlighted that the investment in this expressway's Phase 1 was approved by the National Assembly under Resolution No. 59/2022/QH15 on June 16, 2022. The total investment is 17,829 billion VND (land clearance costs are split 50% from the central budget and 50% from the local budget; construction costs are fully funded by the central budget). During project implementation in Dong Nai, additional land clearance costs of 1,469 billion VND and construction costs of 964 billion VND arose.

Therefore, Dong Nai leaderships requests that the National Assembly consider adjusting the compensation and land clearance budget for Dong Nai by an additional 734.5 billion VND (with the province contributing the remaining 50%) and adjust the construction and other costs by approximately 964 billion VND from the central government budget.

The Acting Chairman also noted that the railway system connecting to Long Thanh Airport includes three planned routes: the North-South high-speed railway, the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh light railway, and the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau railway, which will facilitate the transport of goods from industrial zones and central depots in the east to Long Thanh Airport and the Group V seaports in Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, and the Thi Vai – Cai Mep port area. These railways play a crucial role in connectivity and freight transport.

Thus, Dong Nai requests that the National Assembly expedite the investment in the railway system to ensure synchronization and meet demands when Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational...