Construction set to begin on three bridges connecting Dong Nai and HCM City in Q2, 2026

Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City authorities have set a target to commence construction of Cat Lai, Long Hung, and Phu My 2 bridges, connecting the two localities, in the second quarter of 2026.

Once completed, the Cat Lai Bridge will facilitate the transportation of goods and people's travel between Dong Nai and HCM City. Photo: Pham Tung

Following the ground-breaking ceremonies held for these projects earlier in 2026, both localities are continuing to finalize the remaining investment procedures.

Collaborative completion of project dossiers

The investment projects for the construction of Cat Lai, Long Hung, and Phu My 2 bridges are being implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Among the three above-mentioned bridge projects, as agreed between the two localities, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee will be the competent authority for the projects of Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges, while the HCM City People's Committee will be the competent authority for the Phu My 2 Bridge Project.

For the two projects of Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee selected the consortium led by Construction Corporation No. 1 - JSC (CC1) as the investor. For the Phu My 2 Bridge Project, the HCM City People's Committee approved assigning Masterise Group to research and prepare a proposal report for the investment policy.

According to the investment policy for the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects approved by the Dong Nai Provincial People's Council, the maximum period for submitting the feasibility study report was 3 months, with the deadline set for March 10, 2026. However, before this deadline, a representative of the investor consortium, CC1, sent a written request to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Council and People's Committee to extend the deadline for submitting the feasibility study report.

Perspective of Long Hung Bridge connecting Dong Nai province with Ho Chi Minh City.

Recently, the investor consortium has urgently carried out necessary tasks to prepare the feasibility study report in accordance with regulations, including: organizing field surveys, collecting data, researching technical options, developing total investment, and finalizing project dossier contents. The consulting unit completed 100% of the survey work and has finalized the feasibility study report for submission to the investor, ensuring compliance with progress and quality requirements. The feasibility study report is ready for submission to the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval. However, due to the sharp increase in fuel prices affecting the calculation of unit prices and the total investment of the project; along with fluctuations in construction material prices, the investor consortium requested an extension of the deadline for submitting the feasibility study report for the two projects until April 10, 2026, to finalize the total investment of the project.

For the Phu My 2 Bridge Project, the investor and relevant agencies of HCM City are coordinating to finalize the project's feasibility study report. In late March, the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Finance sent an official document on the appraisal of the project's feasibility study report to the HCM City Department of Finance.

Accelerating construction progress to serve Long Thanh Airport operations

The Cat Lai, Long Hung, and Phu My 2 bridges play a crucial role in connecting traffic between Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City, especially the Long Thanh International Airport area with the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Leaders of the HCM City People's Committee and the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee agreed to assign the construction departments of the two localities to coordinate research, review, and determine the scale, number of lanes, and the end point of the Cat Lai Bridge Project on the HCM City side (the area of My Thuy intersection and Nguyen Thi Dinh street), ensuring the road boundary of Nguyen Thi Dinh street, the traffic capacity across the entire area, and report and propose to the HCM City People's Committee before April 10, 2026.

At the working session of the Government's working group on the Long Thanh Airport Project Phase 1 and connecting traffic routes in late March, Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stated: Dong Nai province identifies Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges as playing a crucial role in connecting Long Thanh Airport with Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the province requires units to coordinate with the investor consortium to accelerate the completion of procedural documents to soon commence construction.

In an official document on the appraisal of the feasibility study report for the Phu My 2 Bridge Project, the Dong Nai Department of Finance assessed the necessity of the investment, noting that the project would open up many transportation connection options from Tan Son Nhat Airport, the center of HCM City, to Long Thanh Airport. From there, it would enhance the investment efficiency of the Long Thanh Airport Project and the socio-economic development of Dong Nai province.

Recently, in the conclusion notice from the leaders of both HCM Municipal and Dong Nai Provincial People's Committees at the working session on the results of implementing the tasks of the Working Group for transportation connectivity between the two localities, held at the end of March 2026 and signed by Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, the leaders of the two localities agreed to assign the construction departments of both localities and relevant units to complete procedures and documents, striving to commence the projects in the second quarter of 2026.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha