The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just issued two decisions approving the regulations and design tasks for the competition for the architectural plan of the main overpass project under Component Project 2: Upgrading the North - South axis road (Nguyen Van Linh section to Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway), investing under a BOT contract (build - operate - transfer).
The North-South axis road upgrade project (Nguyen Huu Tho Street) is over 8 km long.
The scope of the entrance exam is the main overpass (elevated road) category, about 6.62 km long.
This elevated route is designed with a cross-section of 18.5 m, arranged with 4 car lanes (2 lanes in each direction), traveling between the main route, completely separate from the parallel road system for people below. Only cars are allowed to travel on the overpass, no lanes are arranged for motorbikes and rudimentary vehicles.
The up/down branches are located in the Dia Canal Bridge area, near Nguyen Van Tao intersection and the section between the route (near the intersection of the road connecting warehouse B). All are directly connected to the parallel roads on both sides, helping to regulate traffic flow appropriately, serving the needs of people and industrial parks without putting pressure on high-speed vehicles on the overpass.
The operating principle is clearly defined: vehicles on the overpass must travel continuously, not affected by intersections or parking stops; the number of points of increase and decrease is limited, only arranged at large intersections and strategic residential areas, ensuring the role of a rapid transport route.
The total prize value of the design competition is 300 million VND, of which the first prize is worth 150 million VND, the second prize is 100 million VND and the third prize is 50 million VND.
The North-South axis road upgrade project (from Nguyen Van Linh to Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway) has a total investment of nearly VND 9,894 billion.
Of which, the state budget will be spent on site clearance and construction of two important intersections on Nguyen Van Linh Street and Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway; the rest will be implemented under the BOT form (Component Project 2).
Along with the elevated route, parallel roads will be built on both sides of the land, with 3 lanes on each side, with a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
According to the plan, Ho Chi Minh City will select an investor and sign a contract in the fourth quarter of 2025. The site clearance work is expected from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026.
Component projects using state budget capital will start construction in the fourth quarter of 2025. The BOT project will start construction in the first quarter of 2026 and be completed in 2028.
When completed, the Nguyen Huu Tho elevated road will become a fast and smooth traffic axis, connecting the city center with the South Saigon urban area, Hiep Phuoc port and large industrial parks.
The route also plays a central role, connecting Ring Road 2 with Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway (Ring Road 3) and later Ring Road 4, serving the needs of inter-regional traffic between Ho Chi Minh City and the Eastern and Southwestern provinces, the seaport system and Long Thanh international airport.
The project is considered one of the key infrastructure projects, contributing to the completion of the urban transport network, promoting the development of urban space, industry, logistics and creating a foundation for sustainable development for the South of Ho Chi Minh City.
