Sluggish projects in HCMC to be restarted

After 10 years of construction, only two parts of the project have been completed, comprising construction Binh Trieu 2 Bridge and expansion of Binh Trieu 1 Bridge

The project includes the expansion of Binh Trieu 1 Bridge, and National Highway 13 running through Binh Thanh to Thu Duc districts. The construction of Binh Trieu 2 Bridge along with some other works were aimed at easing the overload on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh-Binh Trieu Bridge-National Highway 13 route, one of the city’s two most-used gateways.

The project, with an initial investment of VND341.9 billion ($16.6 million), was first given to Civil Engineering Construction Company No.585 (Cienco 5). It first broke ground in 2000. Construction was scheduled for completion in two years.

However, in 2003, the city asked for a further expansion of National Highway 13, changing the planned width from 32m to 53m. This raised the project’s total cost to VND1.6 trillion ($77.6 million), exceeding Cienco 5’s funding capacity.

In 2004, after Binh Trieu 2 Bridge was completed, Cienco 5 handed over the second phase of the project to the city, who gave the project to CII in 2005.

But, until two years later, CII made a proposition to the municipal authorities that they increase funds for the project to a total of VND3.49 trillion ($169.4 million), ten times higher than initial estimates.

The city authorities continued their debate on the plans and its environmental and social impacts. As a result the expansion of Binh Trieu 1 Bridge was on hold until 2009.

The 10-year stagnation of the project has left a gap in the city's transportation system, as the Xo Viet Nghe Tinh-Binh Trieu Bridge-National Highway 13 route would be one of the key land routes into the city.

CII still plans to expand National Highway 13 in the next two years, yet there are worries about the initial phase of site clearance.