Construction of an elevated road near Tan Son Nhat International Airport will be begin in 2017 as part of a grand scheme to build five new above-ground highways to ease Saigon's traffic congestion.
VnExpress reports the future network will span about 70 kilometers, with the first highway stretching roughly 9.5 kilometers from Cong Hoa Street in Tan Binh District to Dien Bien Phu Street, where it will separate into two branches to connect with both the Hang Xanh Roundabout and Ngo Tat To Street in Binh Thanh District.
The cost to construct this first stretch is estimated at around VND15 trillion (US$659 million). However, according to The Saigon Times, it could cost as much as VND18 trillion (US$794 million) for the first road only.
City authorities are still selecting investors for the project. According to The Saigon Times, both South Korea’s GS E&C Company and local firm 620 Chau Thoi Concrete Corporation were chosen to build the road but later withdrew because of the amount of capital and time required.
Plans for the other four elevated highways are still in their early stages, but Saigon officials have already proposed suggested routes. Have a look at the proposed pathways below:
Video via VnExpress.
[Photo via Flickr user R.Srijith]
