HCMC proposes $573 mln to improve waterways, connectivity

City authorities have proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment fund traffic infrastructure development at An Phu intersection in District 2 and along Tham Luong-Ben Cat-Nuoc Len Canal in HCMC's outlying Binh Tan District, an area known for heavy pollution.

Traffic jams often occur at the An Phu intersection, which connects Mai Chi Tho Street in District 2 and HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, a major link between the city and neighboring Dong Nai Province.

The intersection project is estimated to cost over VND5.1 trillion ($220 million), to include the construction of two tunnels and two overpasses as well as a bridge. Once complete, it is expected to reduce traffic congestion and boost connectivity to the expressway, which the Transport Ministry will widen from the current four to eight or 10 lanes.

The five-year-old expressway is severely congested since it is used by 52,000 vehicles a day on average against a design capacity of 44,000.

City authorities proposed to use over VND3.2 trillion from state coffers and the remainder from the city budget.

The second project is estimated to cost over VND8.2 trillion, aimed to improve infrastructure along Tham Luong-Ben Cat-Nuoc Len Canal.

The canal, which spans 32 km, traverses eight districts in HCMC and forms a river route connecting the city with Long An and Binh Duong provinces.

The project seeks to minimize heavy pollution, improve the lives of two million people living across eight districts, expand waterway traffic and provide a facelift to areas along the banks of the canal.

It would include construction of a 32.7-kilometer-long concrete embankment, dredging the canal system, building 14 docks along the canal and improving infrastructure on both banks.

Currently, land clearance compensation has been completed. The city government proposed investment capital from the central government budget of over VND7.2 trillion and the rest from the city budget.

HCMC, home to 13 million people, has struggled with heavy traffic congestion and severe flooding for decades.