Speeding up investment in transport connections

(ĐN)- With just over a year remaining until the completion and operation of Long Thanh International Airport Phase 1, urgent investment in connecting transport routes, especially to Ho Chi Minh City, is underway.

According to Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), about 80% of international passengers using Long Thanh Airport will travel to Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, road networks remain the backbone of connectivity during the airport’s initial phase, with two main routes, T1 and T2, linking the airport to highways, ring roads, and national routes.

Construction of T1 and T2 began in July 2023, with over 800 workers and heavy machinery involved. So far, 55% of the contract value has been completed, aiming for completion by 2025 to support airport operations.

Alongside ACV’s projects, upgrades and expansions on roads connecting to T1 are progressing, forming vital links to Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. Dong Nai’s Department of Transport is also coordinating with Ho Chi Minh City to add five new bus routes to improve public transport access when the airport opens in 2026.

Notably, Dong Nai has prioritized upgrading provincial roads 25B and 25C—key connectors to T1—while planning to build road 769E to link Long Thanh Airport to the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay highway by 2025. According to Dong Nai’s Chairman Vo Tan Duc, road 769E will ease traffic by connecting the airport’s northern area, supporting regional socio-economic growth and reducing congestion on southern routes.

Meanwhile, expansion plans for the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway remain under review. This nearly 22km upgrade will expand sections to 8-10 lanes, with an estimated cost of 15 trillion VND. The Ministry of Transport recently recommended assigning Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) to manage the project, with alternative funding options through public investment if necessary.

These transport developments are critical to ensuring efficient connectivity for Long Thanh Airport and the broader region’s economic advancement.

Reported by  P. Tung