On March 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor) said that the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project has now reached more than 45% of the workload.
Most of the packages have completed the installation of prestressed concrete embankments, technical ditch systems and drainage culverts, ready to deploy the construction of road surfaces on both sides of the canal.
It is expected that some sections will be paved in April and opened to traffic on the occasion of the April 30 holiday.
The entire project, including two canalside routes, will be completed and put into operation by the end of 2025.
The two routes along the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canals, each route is more than 30km long, 8 - 12m wide, passing through 7 districts: Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Tan Binh, District 12, Tan Phu, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh.
When completed, these two routes are expected to be similar to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa routes along Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, helping to create more open and convenient urban space for transportation.
In addition, this route will significantly reduce the load on National Highway 1 when it becomes a parallel traffic route, making travel between districts easier.
There are currently 16 bridges across the canal, but it is expected that when the route is completed, travel demand will increase, requiring the construction of more bridges of larger scale.
The city has a plan to invest in additional bridges in the period from 2026.
Of which, Vam Thuat Bridge (connecting District 12 with Binh Thanh) has the largest scale, with a total estimated investment of more than 1,100 billion VND.
Next is Hong Ky Bridge (connecting Binh Tan District with Binh Chanh District), expected to need about 643 billion VND.
A number of other bridges are also being studied, including Da Han Bridge (District 12) with an investment capital of about 119 billion VND, along with many other pedestrian bridges in the M1 road area - Tan Binh Industrial Park and Binh Hung Hoa ward (Binh Tan district).
Started in February 2023, the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project initially had a total investment of VND 8,200 billion, which was later adjusted to more than VND 9,000 billion.
In addition to the two canalside routes that help improve transport infrastructure, the project also promotes waterway transportation, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long An through Cho Dem River and with Binh Duong, Dong Nai through Saigon River.
