Preparing to kick-start a series of transport infrastructure projects

(ĐN) To achieve the goal of developing a modern, synchronised transport network to meet fast-growing development needs, Dong Nai Province is accelerating the completion of procedures to start construction on a series of major infrastructure projects in the coming months.

Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City are coordinating to speed up the Cat Lai Bridge project. Photo: Pham Tung

Scheduling to start construction on projects connecting Long Thanh Airport, Ho Chi Minh City

According to the plan, Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport will enter commercial operation in the first half of 2026. Therefore, alongside numerous ongoing construction projects, Dong Nai Province is expediting remaining procedures to soon commence construction on the provincial projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and leveraging Long Thanh Airport as a development driver.

To support transport connections to Long Thanh Airport, Dong Nai Province has planned the upgrading, widening, and new construction of provincial roads 769, 773, 770B, and 769E.

According to Dinh Tien Hai, Director of the Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board, for the above-mentioned projects on upgrading, widening, and newly constructing roads, the board and the consulting contractors are currently completing the detailed engineering design dossiers following the basic design, as well as preparing and submitting feasibility study reports for approval.

Regarding project timelines, Hai stated that the Project on Upgrading and Widening Provincial Road 769 will start construction in February 2026. Meanwhile, the Projects on constructing provincial road 770B and upgrading and widening provincial road 773 are expected to begin construction in April 2026.

As for the Provincial Road 769E Construction Project, progress is slower because of required technical coordination at intersections with the North–South high-speed railway and the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh railway. This project is expected to start construction at the end of 2026.

For the Cat Lai Bridge, Long Hung Bridge, and Phu My 2 Bridge projects, the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee have agreed that these are projects connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long Thanh Airport, shortening travel distance between central Ho Chi Minh City and the Ba Ria–Vung Tau region. Both localities have identified these as urgent projects that must be accelerated to start construction in Q4 2025, or no later than Q1 2026, to support Long Thanh Airport operations.

Preventing land clearance delays

According to Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Ho Van Ha, transportation infrastructure projects connecting to Long Thanh Airport — and connecting Dong Nai with Ho Chi Minh City — are extremely urgent for driving provincial development in the coming years. Therefore, agencies and localities must carefully prepare investment-form proposals and land-clearance work. In particular, authorities are currently implementing investment-preparation procedures and land clearance for construction. “Most transport projects in the province are delayed, and the primary reason is slow site clearance,” Vice Chairman Ho Van Ha emphasized.

For projects scheduled for construction commencement, land-clearance deadlines must be clearly defined along with assigned personnel, avoiding situations where there’s a start date but no defined completion deadline, as seen previously.

HO VAN HA, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee

Mai Phong Phu, Director of the Provincial Land Fund Development Center, said the center has issued the compensation implementation plan and approved survey contractors and contracts for the upgrading, widening, and new-construction projects of Provincial Roads 769, 773, and 770B. This followed the province’s resolution of outstanding issues related to cost appraisal for technical-design surveys and land-acquisition mapping.“Field surveying on Routes 770B and 769 is now essentially complete. We are in the process of confirming survey data with the affected land users,” Phu added.

For site clearance, localities along the project corridors have also requested that provincial agencies expedite zoning and planning procedures, accelerate the development of resettlement areas, and provide additional personnel to support compensation and clearance work.

Doan Minh Tri, Chairman of the An Phuoc Commune People’s Committee in Dong Nai Province, reported that the commune currently has around 16 major provincial and national projects under implementation. The workload related to site clearance is extremely large, but available staff is insufficient. The locality is in urgent need of additional manpower to accelerate the clearance process.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Thien Kim, Thu Ha