HCMC – HCMC plans to carry out 125 projects over the next five years to address worsening traffic congestion and improve regional connectivity, as infrastructure strains under rapid urbanization and rising travel demand.
According to the HCMC Department of Construction, the city’s transport infrastructure has yet to keep pace with rapid urbanization and the surge in vehicles following the merger.
Meanwhile, a high-capacity public transport system has not been fully developed, with only one metro line currently in operation, the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien route.
The city has identified 22 congestion-prone locations and nine persistent traffic hotspots, mainly across former inner-city areas, central corridors, key gateways, and around Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Cat Lai Port, as well as national highways 13, 22, 50, and 51.
Under the Department of Construction’s proposal, HCMC will prioritize 125 urgent projects in the 2026-2030 period, including 53 congestion relief projects, seven steel overpasses at major intersections, and seven depots serving road transport.
The plan aims to gradually reduce congestion, improve regional connectivity, and fuel tourism growth and economic development.
In the near term, the city is preparing to launch and inaugurate seven key transport and infrastructure projects to mark the 51st anniversary of the liberation of the south and the reunification of the nation (April 30).
The city will also complete the N3 ramp at the An Phu Interchange this April 30, a major junction near Cat Lai Port that connects to the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway.
The city is also accelerating procedures to break ground on the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway before June 30.
According to the Department of Construction, the biggest bottleneck facing major transport infrastructure projects remains site clearance.
To keep projects on schedule, the department has urged the local authorities to step up efforts to secure land handovers, while relevant agencies are asked to coordinate more closely to speed up fund disbursement and avoid delays caused by administrative procedures.
