On November 25, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor) said that Rach Dia Bridge was completed earlier than originally planned, so it will open to traffic on the morning of November 28, instead of November 30.
The project started construction in July 2023, replacing the old Rach Dia bridge which has seriously degraded and cannot meet traffic load and safety requirements.
With a total investment of more than 500 billion VND, the new Rach Dia bridge is 318m long, 9 - 10.5m wide, combined with the approach roads at both ends of the bridge 153m long, 14 - 27m wide.
The project not only improves traffic but also upgrades the area's urban infrastructure with modern drainage, tree and lighting systems, creating beautiful landscapes and meeting high quality standards.
“The opening of Rach Dia Bridge will reduce traffic pressure from District 7 to Nha Be District, and at the same time support traffic flow during the construction of the Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho underpass, helping to reduce congestion at the southern gateway,” said a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board.
Currently, the Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho underpass project is completing the HC1 tunnel branch (from Binh Chanh to District 7), expected to open to traffic at the end of 2024. Since November, the construction of Nguyen Van Linh road surface at this intersection has significantly affected traffic in the area.
The opening of Rach Dia Bridge will help create an alternative route, reduce congestion during the construction of the underpass, ensure stable traffic and reduce pressure on Nguyen Van Linh Avenue.
On Le Van Luong Street, in addition to the completed Rach Dia Bridge, Ho Chi Minh City has put Long Kieng Bridge into use since September 2023, more than 22 years after its approval. With a total investment of nearly 600 billion VND, Long Kieng Bridge helps improve traffic and reduce congestion on this important route.
The remaining two bridge projects on the route, Rach Tom Bridge and Rach Doi Bridge, are still waiting for funding to be implemented.
The new Rach Tom Bridge was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport in 2019 with a total investment of nearly VND497 billion, but has not been allocated enough capital.
To date, only VND1 billion has been allocated, causing delays. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed allocating VND260 billion in the 2024-2025 period to clear the land for project implementation, with the project expected to be completed and opened to traffic by the end of 2026.
Rach Doi Bridge was approved in principle in 2016, but has not been implemented because Ho Chi Minh City has not been able to balance its capital sources.
The project has a total length of 452m (including a 300m approach road), with a land clearance cost of about 265 billion VND for the section through Ho Chi Minh City. The section through Long An, worth 85 billion VND, will be implemented by this province. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport proposed adjusting the investment policy, implementing the project early, and completing the bridge in 2028.
Rach Dia Bridge is part of the strategy to improve traffic infrastructure at the southern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City. In the future, when all bridge projects on Le Van Luong route are completed, the connection from District 7 to Nha Be district and Long An province will be significantly improved.
