HO CHI MINH CITY (VNExpress/Vietnam News): Vietnam has revealed the design for the Cat Lai cable-stayed bridge, a sweeping river crossing set to link Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai Province, easing congestion on key routes while reshaping the region’s future transport network.
And also a future urban landscape and the Cat Lai Bridge, along with interchanges on both sides of the bridge.
The design proposal by the Transport Engineering Design Incorporated (TEDI) had also won first prize and was approved by the Dong Nai provincial People's Committee on Jan 29.
The bridge will be about 11.6 kilometers long, including a 3-kilometer main span. The project starts at Nguyen Thi Dinh Street in Cat Lai Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, and ends in Dai Phuoc Commune, Dong Nai Province. Total investment is estimated at around VND20.6 trillion (US$794 million).
Earlier, on Jan. 15, Dong Nai Province coordinated with Construction Corporation No. 1 to hold the groundbreaking ceremony. The bridge is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, using a build-transfer (BT) contract.
A key architectural feature of the bridge is its two pylons, which feature strong, decisive forms combined with soft lines that harmonize with the surrounding landscape.
The bridge will have eight lanes and a design speed of 80 kph, including two lanes for motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles.
Once operational, the bridge will connect northern and northeastern areas of Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nai Province and Long Thanh International Airport, helping ease congestion on existing routes such as National Highways 1 and 51, as well as the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway.
The bridge is expected to serve as a strategic transport corridor, contributing to the completion of the interprovincial transport network between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, while strengthening connections to Long Thanh Airport, seaports, industrial parks, urban areas, and major national transport arteries.
The lighting system will illuminate the Cat Lai Bridge at night, with the two pylons as visual highlights.
When the bridge becomes operational, it is expected to end the frequent traffic congestion caused by long vehicle queues on Ly Thai To Street in Dong Nai, especially during holidays and the Lunar New Year.
Along with the Cat Lai Bridge, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province have recently held groundbreaking ceremonies for the Long Hung and Phu My 2 bridges. Last year, the Nhon Trach Bridge on Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3 was completed and opened to traffic, helping shorten the distance between the two localities.
