Ho Chi Minh City to spend $80mn to tackle congestion, inundation at airport

The municipal Department of Transport has recommended five projects to help alleviate traffic jams and flooding at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

According to transport officials, Truong Son Street in Tan Binh District is currently the primary access route for passengers to enter and exit the aerodrome.

The road is also part of the routes used by commuters from Binh Thanh, Go Vap, and Thu Duc Districts, and the neighboring Binh Duong Province, creating heavy traffic pressure on the area.

To relieve the large traffic volume, a Y-shaped steel flyover has been planned for construction, with investment capital estimated at VND771 billion ($34.5 million).

About 99 meters long and 11.5 meters wide, the two branches of the structure will connect the Truong Son Street with the domestic and international terminals of the airport.

A road tunnel is also expected to be built under Truong Son Street, linking the exit of the aerodrome domestic terminal with Hong Ha Street.

Construction of another Y-shaped flyover has also been proposed to connect Hoang Minh Giam Street with Nguyen Thai Son and Nguyen Kiem roads, the transport department said, adding that about VND504 billion ($22.5 million) will be expensed for the work.

Renovation and expansion on certain sections of Hoang Minh Giam and Hoang Hoa Tham Street are included in the other three projects.

The Department of Transport also suggested that the municipal People’s Committee establish special mechanisms to expedite the execution of the projects.

The Tan Son Nhat International Airport is completely deluged on August 26, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Flood control efforts to be exerted

Inundation inside the airfields has posed serious threats to flight safety, evidenced by many delayed and canceled journeys as the result of therecent downpours on August 26 and September 11.

The flooding was brought about by extreme rainfall and exacerbated by the encroachment of the airport’s main sewer system, relevant agencies assessed.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, an official from the Southern Airports Authority stated that the venue’s drainage system was divided into three sections.

One of the divisions could not be utilized to its full potential due to the encroachment, causing inundation at the airport apron.

In terms of temporary resolution, dredging isregularly carried out while the capacity of water pumps inside the airport has been upgraded.

Construction of a reservoir, which would help regulate flood water at the facility, is also being considered as a long term solution.

To relieve flood water in the outskirt areas, the dredging and building of new sewer entrances has been conducted.

Renovation to a nearby canal is also anticipated to be performed between 2017 and 19, which is hoped to assist the airport in the control of flood water.