Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company (CII) recently announced that the city People's Committee has assigned the consortium of CII and Ho Chi Minh City State Financial Investment Company (HFIC) to prepare a feasibility study for a project aimed at enhancing traffic capacity on Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Xa Lo Ha Noi, and National Highway 1. This project specifically covers the section from Sai Gon Bridge to Tan Van intersection and will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The CII - HFIC consortium refers to this initiative as "Xa Lo Ha Noi 2".

Xa Lo Ha Noi 2 has a projected total investment of approximately 3,500 billion VND. The project involves upgrading five key intersections along the 15,4 km route. A representative from CII told VnExpress that the consortium plans to construct additional overpasses and underpasses to separate traffic flows at these intersections. Initial studies indicate that the consortium will utilize existing land, thus avoiding the need for land acquisition or clearance.

"The project is expected to alleviate congestion at critical at-grade intersections, which frequently cause traffic jams during peak hours," CII stated.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requires the consortium to self-fund the project's study, without using the city's budget. The consortium has 12 months to complete this work.

A section of Vo Nguyen Giap Street (formerly Xa Lo Ha Noi), looking towards the eastern area from central Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quynh Tran

The route encompassing Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Xa Lo Ha Noi, and National Highway 1, from Sai Gon Bridge to Tan Van intersection, is crucial for improving connectivity between eastern Ho Chi Minh City and major industrial and service hubs in Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Successfully addressing these bottlenecks will also enhance future access to Long Thanh International Airport.

CII is a leading enterprise in transport infrastructure. In Ho Chi Minh City, the company is known for its involvement in the Xa Lo Ha Noi expansion project and infrastructure investment projects in the northern residential area and the completion of the North - South axis within the Thu Thiem New Urban Area. CII is also recognized as the investor for the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway.

Earlier this year, CII unveiled a transit-oriented development (TOD) concept for the Hang Xanh area, covering approximately 51,4 hectares. The preliminary total investment for this concept is around 486,622 billion VND, equivalent to over 18.5 billion USD. A primary component of this plan involves investing in a synchronized multi-level transport infrastructure system and advancing funds for site clearance to comprehensively resolve traffic congestion and flooding in the area.

CII's management board stated that they are focusing resources on two key investment projects: the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway and the expansion of Xa Lo Ha Noi - National Highway 1. Concurrently, they have been tasked as the investor to develop a project proposal for an elevated road along National Highway 51. Including Xa Lo Ha Noi 2, the total scale of projects CII is investing in and researching amounts to 59,725 billion VND.

Tat Dat