Dong Tam Overpass to Be Completed in 2027
(DTO) On September 11, the Ministry of Construction issued Decision No. 1601 approving adjustments to the Rach Mieu 2 Bridge Investment and Construction Project, which connects Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces (now Dong Thap and Vinh Long provinces).
Under the decision, the Ministry sanctioned supplementary investment in a grade-separated interchange with National Highway 1. Specifically, the project will add an overpass at the Dong Tam interchange, where National Highway 1 meets the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway approach road and Provincial Road 870.
The overpass will begin on the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway approach road (Dong Tam approach road), about 387 meters from the interchange centerpoint, and end on Provincial Road 870, about 340 meters from the interchange centerpoint, spanning Long Hung Commune and Trung An Ward, Dong Thap Province. The project will also install a lighting system within the interchange limits and residential areas in Long Hung Commune, Trung An Ward, and Kim Son Commune, Dong Thap Province.
The overpass centerline will align with the route alignment spanning from the Dong Tam approach road toward Provincial Road 870, crossing over National Highway 1. The bridge will be 16 meters wide, accommodating four traffic lanes. It will comprise seven spans with a total length of more than 293 meters.
The project will also include interchange branch roads. On the Dong Tam approach road side, the existing roadbed and pavement will be widened to a total width of 36 meters, accommodating the 16-meter-wide overpass and 10-meter-wide frontage roads on each side. On the Provincial Road 870 side, the existing roadbed, pavement and drainage ditch system will be retained, while a 16-meter-wide overpass and frontage roads ranging from 8 to 9.25 meters wide on each side will be built. Under the bridge, an underpass will be provided for motorcycles and passenger cars to make U-turns, along with two lanes for vehicles waiting to turn left. The existing section of National Highway 1 currently in operation will remain unchanged, while turning radii and traffic islands will be reconfigured to ensure a design speed of 40 km/h.
The overpass will occupy 1.91 hectares of land, including about 0.39 hectares for site clearance.
Following the adjustment, the Rach Mieu 2 Bridge Project will retain its total investment of more than VND 6.81 trillion. The overpass component will be funded by the central State budget, with VND 200 billion allocated in 2026 and more than VND 453 billion expected for 2027. Under the plan, the Dong Tam interchange overpass will be completed and commissioned in 2027.
The Ministry of Construction assigned the My Thuan Project Management Board to formulate an overall schedule and organize project implementation to ensure completion on the approved schedule, while maintaining quality and keeping costs within the approved total investment. The board was also instructed to closely coordinate with relevant departments, agencies, local authorities and organizations to carry out site clearance and hand over cleared land to contractors in accordance with commitments.
In recent times, the Dong Tam interchange has become a traffic hotspot since Rach Mieu 2 Bridge was opened to traffic in August 2025. The volume of vehicles heading toward the new bridge has surged, while traffic streams from National Highway 1, the expressway approach road and Provincial Road 870 converge at the junction, triggering chronic congestion. The investment in the overpass at the Dong Tam interchange will contribute to alleviating traffic congestion in the area.
By ANH THU
Translated by X.QUANG
