Expectations for effective regional economic development
City – Highway 13, the section from Binh Trieu bridge to Binh Phuoc intersection is just over 5km, but people passing through here sometimes take up to an hour to “escape” from this road. This is considered a road with a “blood clot” that has blocked inter-regional circulation for decades and is waiting to be cleared.
Highway 13 connects Ho Chi Minh City with Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces to the Central Highlands. On the Binh Duong side, this national highway is spacious and airy as it has been upgraded and expanded to 8 lanes many times. Highway 13 bordering Thu Duc is cramped. At the section passing through Ho Chi Minh City, there are currently only 4-6 lanes, creating a “bottleneck” that has always been congested for many years.
Previously, Highway 13 from Binh Trieu bridge to Binh Phuoc intersection was more than 5 km long, part of the Binh Trieu 2 bridge and road project, formed more than 22 years ago in the form of BOT. However, the project has not been implemented because the BOT contract was then stopped. The project to expand Highway 13 in the form of BOT was also forced to stop and switch to budget use. And since then, for 22 years the project has remained stagnant.
In 2019, the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Projects submitted to the city to decide on the investment policy to upgrade and expand National Highway 13, the section from the foot of Binh Trieu bridge to Binh Phuoc overpass. According to this report, the total project investment is nearly 10 trillion VND, implemented from 2019 to 2023 but has not yet been implemented in practice. Ho Chi Minh City has also proposed that the Central Government supplement medium-term public investment capital for the period 2021-2025 to do traffic works, with priority given to the project to expand National Highway 13 after many years of delay.
After the National Assembly passed Resolution 98 to pilot a specific mechanism for Ho Chi Minh City, in which the city is invested in the BOT form with road upgrading and expansion projects. This is the basis for the National Highway 13 expansion project to be restarted in the above form.
Mr. Tran Quang Lam – Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport said that the expansion of National Highway 13 is currently very urgent because traffic pressure on the route is increasing. According to a representative of this department, the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021-2025 with the approved Ho Chi Minh City budget is about VND 142,000 billion, of which capital will be prioritized to expand National Highway 13, reduce traffic congestion and accidents. and increase regional connectivity.
Currently, with the project to upgrade National Highway 13, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has spent more than 3.7 billion VND on 4 bidding packages: Consulting on preparing bidding documents, evaluating bid documents; Consulting on surveying the steps of preparing a pre-feasibility study report; Consulting on surveys and preparing pre-feasibility study reports…
Initially, National Highway 13 along with 4 other routes in Ho Chi Minh City including: National Highway 1, National Highway 22, North – South axis, Binh Tien road and bridge are expected to be expanded, however, these projects are being considered. Consider following the elevated road plan.
A leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport said that the implementation of BOT projects according to the specific mechanism from Resolution 98 (including upgrading National Highway 13) needs to be carefully studied and impacts calculated from many sides.
“Whether expanding the existing route and collecting tolls will receive support or not is an issue that needs to be calculated. Among the proposed options, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport and consulting units are studying the plan to build an elevated road. It can be understood that any vehicle using the elevated road will have to pay a toll, while other vehicles traveling on the existing road will not have to pay a toll. However, more time is needed to research” – this leader said.
* Chairing the standing meeting of the Steering Committee for key projects in Ho Chi Minh City, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai directed relevant units to accelerate the implementation of a number of urgent projects, including projects Gateway traffic such as National Highway 13, National Highway 25, the section connecting Vo Van Kiet Street with Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway…
* The National Highway 13 expansion project with an investment of about 14,000 billion VND not only helps reduce traffic flow, connecting Ho Chi Minh City – Binh Duong but also promotes the economic and social development of the region. The project is expected to start construction in 2025 and be completed in 2028. Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is hiring a consultant to prepare a pre-feasibility study report to prepare for implementation.
At the end of September, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam chaired a meeting on the Pre-Feasibility Study Report (first-term report) of 5 construction investment projects to upgrade, expand and modernize public works. Existing road projects are subject to BOT contracts in Ho Chi Minh City. At the meeting, Mr. Tran Quang Lam requested consulting units to urgently review and prepare pre-feasibility study reports for BOT projects (including the project to upgrade National Highway 13).
Leaders of the City Department of Transport believe that the goal of the project to upgrade National Highway 13 and 4 other BOT projects (including National Highway 1, National Highway 22, North – South axis, Binh Tien road and bridge) is to improve traffic ability. and the service level of the existing route, solving overload and traffic jams.
Binh Duong invested more than 12,000 billion to upgrade National Highway 13 connecting Ho Chi Minh City
On September 7, a representative of the People’s Committee of Binh Duong province said that the locality is trying to speed up the progress of the BOT project to upgrade and expand National Highway 13. The total investment in upgrading National Highway 13 is more than 12,463 billion VND, of which the State’s capital is more than 4,091 billion VND, accounting for 33% of the total investment; Investor and mobilized capital is 8,372 billion VND, accounting for 67% of total investment.
Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh said that upgrading and expanding National Highway 13 will continue to create a “technical framework” for the province’s socio-economic development, to meet two major goals. is to relieve traffic pressure on the route, prepare for long-term urban development plans, and shape the arterial traffic axis.
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Binh Duong upgraded National Highway 13 from 6 lanes to 8 lanes Photo: HC |
With the investment in upgrading the arterial road, Binh Duong expects to continue attracting investment for the new development phase, contributing to building Binh Duong into a civilized, modern urban area, one of the most developed urban areas. development of the southern key economic region, with great pervasiveness and strong impact on neighboring provinces and surrounding areas.
Scale and additions to renovate and expand Highway 13 from the welcome gate (Thuan An City) to the starting point of Thu Dau Mot City, expanding from 6 lanes to 8 lanes, investing in sidewalks, trees, and exits. synchronized water.
On National Highway 13 through Binh Duong, an overpass will be invested at the intersection of Binh Hoa – Huu Nghi (Thuan An City) to increase traffic capacity and prevent congestion. At Phuoc Kien intersection (Thu Dau Mot City), more than 1,000 billion VND was invested to build an underground tunnel. The construction and installation period is from 2024 to 2026.
As noted by reporter Tien Phong, National Highway 13, the section from Thu Dau Mot City to the welcome gate bordering Ho Chi Minh City, is being upgraded and expanded by Binh Duong province to 8 lanes. This is one of the key projects of Binh Duong province.
Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh said that recently, the locality has reviewed public investment projects, thereby deciding to transfer capital plans from projects that are slow to disburse to projects that are capable of disbursement. good disbursement ability. Binh Duong prioritizes capital, focusing on implementing transport projects that connect the region to attract investment, economic and social development.
