This project is among the priority works proposed by the Department of Construction for implementation by 2030. Its goal is to boost traffic capacity on Beltway 2 and ease congestion at the Cat Lai port gateway.

A preliminary plan suggests that expanding Phu My bridge will help distribute traffic, particularly container trucks entering and exiting Cat Lai port and nearby industrial parks, thereby reducing pressure on inner-city areas. The project's scale, technical approach, and investment model will be studied during the policy proposal report preparation.

Phu My bridge viewed from Cat Lai Ward towards Phu Thuan. *Photo: Giang Anh*

Phu My bridge spans the Saigon River on Beltway 2, connecting Phu Thuan Ward with Cat Lai, formerly part of District 7 and Thu Duc City. Construction began in 2005 under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with a total capital of about 2,077 ty dong, and the bridge opened in 2009.

This is Ho Chi Minh City's first cable-stayed bridge, stretching over two kilometers, featuring six lanes, and providing 45 meters of clearance for vessels. After more than 15 years of operation, the bridge experiences frequent congestion due to high traffic volume, especially during peak hours when container trucks access Cat Lai port. The project is currently still collecting tolls to recover its capital.

Phu My bridge route alignment. *Graphics: Dang Hieu*

In addition to expanding Phu My bridge, the Department of Construction has proposed prioritizing four other projects to complete the transportation network around Cat Lai port.

Among these, Vo Chi Cong street, part of Beltway 2, stretching approximately 8,3 kilometers from Phu My bridge to Phu Huu bridge, is slated for expansion to 67 meters wide, with a total capital of nearly 5,500 ty dong.

Two direct access routes to Cat Lai port and Phu Huu Industrial Park, Nguyen Thi Dinh and Nguyen Duy Trinh streets, are also proposed for upgrades in line with planning, with total capital of about 2,600 ty dong and 1,859 ty dong, respectively.

The remaining project is the Cat Lai - Phu Huu inter-port road, nearly six kilometers long and 60 meters wide, with a total capital of nearly 8,800 ty dong. This route will connect Cat Lai port with the Beltway 3 interchange and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway.

Besides expanding the existing bridge, Ho Chi Minh City is also implementing the Phu My 2 bridge project, approximately 6,3 kilometers long, connecting the city's southern area with Dong Nai. This project is being carried out under a build-transfer (BT) contract, with a total capital exceeding 23,000 ty dong.

By Giang Anh