The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has just submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee a pre-feasibility study report on the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 1 (from Kinh Duong Vuong Street to the border of Long An province) under the public-private partnership (PPP) method and BOT (build-operate-transfer) contract.
This is one of five key transport projects of Ho Chi Minh City implemented under the special mechanism of Resolution 98, allowing BOT implementation for existing transport infrastructure.
According to the proposal, National Highway 1 through Binh Tan and Binh Chanh districts, which is more than 9.6km long, will be widened to 60m, divided into three main sections.
The section from Kinh Duong Vuong intersection to Tan Kien intersection will be expanded to 12 lanes.
The section from Tan Kien intersection to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway intersection will be expanded to 12 lanes (8 main lanes, 4 parallel lanes).
The section from after the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway intersection to the border of Long An province will be expanded to 10 lanes (6 main lanes, 4 parallel lanes).
In addition to road widening, the project also renovates key intersections to reduce traffic conflicts.
The intersection with Kinh Duong Vuong Street will build a 4-lane overpass on National Highway 1, crossing Kinh Duong Vuong and Tran Dai Nghia Streets. At the same time, the An Lac roundabout to Tran Dai Nghia Street will also be expanded.
Binh Thuan intersection builds an additional 4-lane overpass on National Highway 1 and a 4-lane underpass on Nguyen Van Linh Street.
Doan Nguyen Tuan intersection builds an overpass to give priority to straight traffic on Highway 1.
Binh Dien Bridge will build an additional 6-lane bridge unit on the right side, increasing the total number of lanes through this area to 12 lanes.
The project requires the acquisition of about 96 hectares of land, most of which is in Binh Chanh district. More than 2,100 households are affected, of which about 517 households must be completely cleared.
The total preliminary investment is about 16,270 billion VND, divided into three parts. The compensation, support and resettlement project in Binh Tan district is about 1,068 billion VND.
Compensation, support and resettlement project in Binh Chanh district is over 8,500 billion VND.
The construction project under the BOT contract costs about VND6,659 billion (including VND794 billion in interest). According to the plan, the project will collect tolls on 8 main lanes, while 4 parallel lanes will not collect tolls to ensure the rights of the people. The toll collection period is expected to last 21 years and 10 months.
The project is expected to be submitted to competent authorities for investment policy approval in the first quarter of 2025, followed by the preparation and appraisal of the feasibility study report in the second and third quarters.
The selection of investors and signing of project contracts will be completed by the end of 2025, at the same time as site clearance, lasting until the end of 2026.
If on schedule, the project will start construction in early 2026 and be completed and put into operation in 2028.
National Highway 1 through Binh Chanh District is the main artery connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Western provinces, and also connects with many important traffic axes such as Vo Van Kiet Avenue, Nguyen Van Linh, Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway and Mien Tay Bus Station.
However, this road is currently only 20 - 25m wide with 4 - 6 lanes, often overloaded, especially during rush hour and holidays.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, upgrading National Highway 1 in combination with Ring Roads 2, 3, and 4 will gradually complete the inter-regional transport system.
