Construction begins on Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges

A groundbreaking ceremony for Component Project 2, which includes the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridges, was held on September 29 in Dai Phuoc commune, Dong Nai City. The projects are being implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Attending the ceremony were Nguyen Minh Hoi, Head of the City Party Committee's Commission for Internal Affairs; Tran Van Mi, Vice Chairman of the City People's Council; and Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of the City People's Committee.

Delegates press the button to mark the start of construction of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects. Photo: Pham Tung

The Cat Lai bridge over the Dong Nai river will connect the My Thuy interchange on Ring Road No. 2 in Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City, with the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway in Dai Phuoc commune, Dong Nai City. The entire project is more than 11.6km long, including more than 3.6km of the main bridge and approach bridges.

Once completed, the Cat Lai bridge will create a new direct connection between eastern Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai City, facilitating access to the regional expressway network and logistics hubs.

A key feature of the project is the main bridge, which will have a twin-plane cable-stayed design, a 450m main span and a vertical navigation clearance of 55m. The bridge will have six motor-vehicle lanes and two non-motorised lanes, with a design speed of 80km/h.

Delegates attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects. Photo: Pham Tung

The Long Hung bridge will provide another connection from Northern and Northeastern Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai City and facilitate access to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway. The project has a total length of about 9.8km, connecting Long Phuoc ward in Ho Chi Minh City with An Phuoc commune in Dong Nai City. The route will terminate at the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway. The main bridge and approach bridges will have a combined length of about 3.5km.

The main Long Hung bridge will feature a single-plane cable-stayed design, with a 350m main span and two towers about 175m high. The bridge will have six motor-vehicle lanes and two mixed-traffic lanes, with a deck about 37m wide and a design speed of 80km/h.

Tran Trong Thuy, Director of the Dong Nai City Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transport Projects, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Pham Tung

According to the plan, construction of the Cat Lai and Long Hung bridge projects is scheduled to be completed in 2029.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, representatives of the project companies pledged to mobilise all necessary personnel and equipment to complete the projects on schedule while ensuring construction quality and aesthetics, creating distinctive architectural features for the city's urban landscape.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tran Trong Thuy, Director of the Dong Nai City Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transport Projects, said the groundbreaking marked an important milestone in the implementation of the two strategically important transport infrastructure projects connecting Dong Nai City with Ho Chi Minh City. The projects will contribute to completing the regional transport network, expanding space for urban, industrial and logistics development, and strengthening connectivity with Long Thanh International Airport.

A representative of the Cat Lai bridge project company speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Pham Tung

Given their large scale, demanding technical requirements and complex construction conditions, the projects will require close coordination and a high level of responsibility from all parties involved. As the project management agency, the Dong Nai City Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transport Projects has identified close coordination with relevant agencies, units and localities, investors, project companies, contractors and consultants as a key task in the coming period, with the aim of promptly addressing difficulties and obstacles and creating the most favourable conditions for project implementation.

In particular, regarding site clearance and handover, the Dong Nai City Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transport Projects will work closely with relevant agencies, units and localities to resolve outstanding difficulties and strive to complete site handover early and in a coordinated manner. This will enable construction units to maintain uninterrupted work while ensuring project progress, quality and safety. At the same time, the management board has asked all parties involved in the projects to take full responsibility for coordination, mobilise resources and strictly comply with technical, quality, occupational safety and environmental requirements.

By P. Tung – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha