2-level elevated road to Long Thanh airport under consideration to reduce land requirement

The high-speed road will link the southern part of HCMC with Vietnam's biggest being built in neighboring Dong Nai Province, through the proposed Phu My 2 Bridge in the city's District 7, Vuong Quang Hung, head of the Department of Construction's road infrastructure construction management division, said Monday.

Since there are several narrow sections along the route, such as Hoang Quoc Viet Street in District 7, the city is considering the two-level road.

"This is the first time HCMC is exploring such a solution, though many countries, especially China, have already implemented it," Hung said.

The idea is still in the preliminary study phase, he added.

Authorities from the two localities have agreed to jointly carry out the work under the leadership of the city administration.

The elevated road will start at Nguyen Huu Tho Street in District 7, head eastward, cross the Dong Nai River to link up with Lien Cang Road and Route 25C in Nhon Trach District in Dong Nai before reaching the airport.

The eight-lane road will be 16.7 kilometers long and cost around VND21.5 trillion (US$845 million).

Following a meeting in April, HCMC and Dong Nai tasked the construction department with reviewing and ensuring the bridge's location and connecting roads align with existing plans.

The Departments of Construction and Finance of the two localities are responsible for evaluating investment options, including funding sources and development models.

A proposal is expected to be finalized in the third quarter this year.

The investment policy is scheduled for approval by the fourth, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

In many countries, multi-level elevated roads are used to maximize traffic flow, especially where land availability is a problem.