Accelerating the Expansion of HCMC – Long Thanh Expressway

According to research, the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway is set to be expanded from four to eight lanes over a nearly 24 km stretch, from the An Phu interchange to the projected intersection with the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway (in Đong Nai). The remaining section from Long Thanh to Dau Giay, spanning 31 km, will retain its current four lanes.

Following a recent working session with the HCMC People’s Committee on the progress of major transportation projects in the city, the Ministry of Transport has requested HCMC to promptly provide relevant planning and project information to ensure synchronized implementation of the expressway expansion.

Specifically, the ministry urged the HCMC People’s Committee to direct Thủ Đức City to swiftly supply planning information related to the expansion project. The ministry also requested local authorities to provide feedback on the pre-feasibility study report, particularly concerning site clearance (volume determination, pricing, etc.) as part of the project’s total investment cost.

The expansion project is expected to start beyond the An Phú interchange (in Thủ Đức City), where a three-level interchange project is set to begin soon. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport has requested HCMC to provide details on the interchange’s scale, connectivity design, and construction timeline. Additionally, to expedite the pre-feasibility study report and accelerate the expansion, the ministry is seeking updates on HCMC’s plans for completing Ring Road 2 and other related components.

According to research, the HCMC – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway will be expanded from four to eight lanes over a nearly 24 km stretch, from the An Phú interchange to the planned Biên Hòa – Vũng Tàu Expressway intersection in Đồng Nai. The remaining section from Long Thành to Dầu Giây, spanning 31 km, will maintain its current four lanes.

Notably, two major bridges on the route—Sông Tắc and Long Thành—are proposed to be widened to 10 and 9 lanes, respectively. Interchanges along the expressway are also being studied for integration with the expansion. The total estimated project cost is nearly VND 13 trillion.

Previously, the preliminary feasibility study report for the expansion, prepared by the Mỹ Thuận Project Management Board and submitted to the Ministry of Transport, estimated the cost of widening the 24 km section at over VND 11.5 trillion, with implementation planned for the 2021-2025 period.

The HCMC – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway, which runs through HCMC and Đồng Nai (Phase 1), was put into operation in 2015 with a four-lane configuration and a total investment of VND 20.6 trillion.

However, in the past two years, the expressway has frequently experienced congestion, with an average of 52,300 vehicles passing through daily, reaching nearly 57,000 on weekends and holidays. Meanwhile, its original design capacity was only 44,000 vehicles.

This expressway is a crucial transportation and economic corridor connecting HCMC with the Southeast and Central Highlands regions. Once expanded, it will better facilitate trade and logistics between provinces while also preparing for increased traffic demand when Long Thành International Airport begins operations, expected in 2025.