HO CHI MINH CITY STUDIES INVESTMENT IN SEVEN ADDITIONAL STEEL OVERPASSES TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Three Proposed Overpasses in the City Center

Within the central area of Ho Chi Minh City, the proposed overpasses would be located at the following intersections:

• Dan Chu Roundabout (Công trường Dân Chủ).
• The intersection of 3/2 Street and Lê Đại Hành Street.
• The intersection of 3/2 Street and Lý Thường Kiệt Street.

These intersections frequently experience severe traffic congestion due to high vehicle volumes, particularly during peak hours. The proposed overpasses are expected to separate through traffic from local traffic movements, thereby easing pressure on existing intersections.

Expansion into Newly Developed Areas

Beyond the city center, the city is also considering constructing additional overpasses at several key intersections located in areas that were previously part of Bình Dương and Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, aiming to accommodate increasing travel demand and freight transportation.

The proposed locations include:

• The intersection of Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street and Huỳnh Văn Cù Street.
• The intersection of National Highway 51 and Phước Bình Road.
• The intersection of National Highway 51 and B1 Road (Mỹ Xuân B1 Industrial Park).
• The intersection of DT.994C Road and 30/4 Street.

These locations are considered major transportation hubs that connect industrial parks, residential areas, and regional transportation networks.

Estimated Investment Exceeds VND 2.7 Trillion

According to the preliminary proposal, the estimated investment for the seven overpass projects is more than VND 2.7 trillion.

The proposed structures will use steel bridge construction, a solution widely adopted in many cities due to its relatively short construction period, cost efficiency, and reduced disruption to traffic during construction.

Expected Benefits for Urban Mobility

The additional overpasses are expected to improve road capacity at heavily congested intersections, shorten travel times, and strengthen connectivity between different parts of the city.

A more integrated transportation infrastructure network is also anticipated to support economic growth, enhance logistics efficiency, and improve the overall performance of Ho Chi Minh City's urban transport system.

Expert Perspective

Transportation experts believe that steel overpasses are an effective short- to medium-term solution for addressing traffic bottlenecks because they can be constructed quickly and modified or expanded when necessary.

However, they also emphasize that achieving long-term traffic congestion relief will require an integrated approach that combines overpass development with metro systems, public bus networks, coordinated urban planning, and more efficient traffic management.

Source: Information compiled from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction and publicly available documents on the city's transportation infrastructure development plans.