The People’s Council of Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday approved a US$2.25 billion investment policy for four build-operate-transfer (BOT) gateway traffic projects to enhance regional connectivity and drive socio-economic development in the city and neighboring provinces.

The projects were launched as part of the implementation of Resolution 98 of the Vietnamese legislative National Assembly, which permits piloting specific policies and mechanisms to boost the city’s development. 

They involve upgrading and expanding National Highways Nos. 1, 13 and 22, and the North-South arterial road.

The National Highway No. 1 expansion will span from Kinh Duong Vuong Street in the city’s Binh Tan District to the border of Long An Province. This project covers a length of 10 kilometers and will involve expanding the highway to 10-12 lanes. 

The total investment for this project is over VND16.28 trillion ($638 million), with some $376.7 million allocated from the state budget, and the remaining amount contributed by private investors.

The enlargement of National Highway No. 13 will cover the section from Binh Trieu Bridge in Thu Duc City – a district-level administrative unit of Ho Chi Minh City – to Vinh Binh Bridge in Thuan An District, Binh Duong Province.   

The section will be expanded to 10 lanes, including a 3.2-kilometer elevated road with four lanes. The estimated investment for this project is VND20.9 trillion ($818.5 million), with around $246.3 million sourced from private investors and the remainder funded by the state budget.

The National Highway No. 22 upgrade will focus on the section from An Suong Interchange to Beltway 3, which links the city with Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An Provinces.

This section will be expanded to 10 lanes, with an estimated investment of over VND10.42 trillion ($408.7 million). The project will receive $164.4 million from private investors, with the remaining funds covered by the state budget.

The North-South arterial road development will take place on the section from Nguyen Van Linh Street in District 7 to Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, which connects the city with Long An and Dong Nai. 

The project covers a length of 8.6 kilometers and features a total estimated investment of over VND9.89 trillion ($387.4 million), including more than $183.6 million from the state budget and the rest from private investors.

The total cost of these four large projects is estimated at around VND57.5 trillion ($2.25 billion).  

The municipal Department of Transport will soon assess investor interest and initiate the bidding process. Construction is expected to commence by the end of the year, ensuring seamless integration into the city’s transportation network and strengthening regional traffic connectivity. 

A notable feature of these BOT projects is the selective tolling approach. Fees will apply only to high-speed lanes while parallel roads will remain toll-free, ensuring equitable access for all commuters.

The toll collection system will utilize modern, barrier-free electronic tolling.

Charges will vary based on road length, with per-kilometer pricing for longer highways, such as National Highway No. 1, and per-trip fees for shorter segments, like National Highway No. 13.

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