4 road options connecting Binh Phuoc through Dong Nai

The working session to synthesize opinions of the parties after the direction of the Prime Minister related to Binh Phuoc province to propose the construction of Ma Da bridge and the planning of National Highway 13C passing through Dong Nai cultural nature reserve to connect Long An airport Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water citadel and port. This proposal has been opposed for many years by the Dong Nai government for fear of disrupting the landscape of the world biosphere.

According to the Institute of Transport Development and Strategy, currently for Binh Phuoc to connect seaports and airports in the region, there is only one way to go through national highways 13 and 14. Route DT 753 from Dong Xoai city to Dong Nai To connect with National Highway 1, it is necessary to build Ma Da bridge and expand the provincial road into a national highway (expected national highway 13C). However, this direction of implementation needs to be carefully evaluated to ensure planning requirements, especially in terms of environment and protection of landscapes, historical relics and cultural heritages. The Institute has proposed 4 options after surveying and analyzing the data.

Option one According to the proposal of Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee, is expanding DT 753, building Ma Da bridge connecting Binh Phuoc and Central Highlands provinces with National Highway 1 to Long Thanh airport, Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water port. However, through preliminary assessment, this option has 30 km going through the core zone of Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, affecting the environment according to the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection, the Law on Forestry, and the Law on Biodiversity. study, Law on Cultural Heritage; international conventions to which Vietnam is a signatory.

If this option is followed, the route is 86 km long, the investment cost is expected to be nearly 2,200 billion VND, because it is necessary to build viaducts, tunnels for animals to pass through, fences, noise-proof walls, not to mention the possibility that UNESCO does not agree, the reserve may be revoked the certificate of biosphere reserve. In addition, the implementation procedure is very complicated, the scale cannot be opened too large due to the impact on the forest, so it will affect the ability to meet the transport demand.

Plan 2 According to the proposal of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province, the whole route is 98 km long, with an investment of more than 1,500 billion VND, running through the buffer zone, on the ring road 4, connecting from Binh Phuoc to national highway 1. Travel time of the road This is fast due to taking advantage of Ring Road 4, reducing the load on existing routes connecting Binh Phuoc and Central Highlands provinces to Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep-water port.

In this option, the length of the new construction section is about 37 km, taking advantage of the 30 km of DT 753 road that has been invested, less impact on the biosphere reserve, lower construction costs. However, according to the Institute of Strategy, this route only goes through Binh Duong, not directly connecting Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces.

Option 3 launched by the Institute of Strategy and Development, is do The road passes through the buffer zone, connecting to National Highway 1. The whole route plan is nearly 100 km long, 22 km must be built, and 30 km can be utilized. However, the road connecting to National Highway 1 has a large population, so it is difficult to expand or the investment cost is very large, the estimated cost is about 2,230 billion VND. This route has a lower environmental impact and can meet environmental requirements.

Last option is to build a road through the buffer zone of National Highway 56B and connect to National Highway 20. The whole route is more than 100 km long, the investment cost is expected to be about 2,230 billion VND, also taking advantage of the 30 km invested DT 753, without much impact. environment and connecting to Long Thanh airport, Cai Mep – Thi Vai port.

At the meeting, Mr. Huynh Anh Minh, Vice Chairman of Binh Phuoc People’s Committee said that the province has a border with Dong Nai about 161 km but there is no connection road. The formation of the DT 753 route is very important to promote trade between the province and the Central Highlands with Long Thanh airport and Cai Mep – Thi Vai port.

“Ma Da Bridge has been around since the war, now it has collapsed, so it is necessary to restore this route. This is the old road with planted forests on both sides, the solution can be to close the fence and build an overpass for animals to pass through… “, said Mr. Minh.

Meanwhile, Dong Nai objected to this option because it thought it would affect the world biosphere reserve, but only agreed to the second option of the research unit. “This is the best option to connect Long Thanh airport and Cai Mep – Thi Vai port,” commented the leader of Dong Nai People’s Committee.

Before that, the Dong Nai government suggestion The UNESCO National Committee in Vietnam commented on the construction of a national highway through a biosphere reserve of over 100,000 hectares in the area. This is one of the very few biosphere zones in the country recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.

After listening to the comments, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan asked relevant units to review and re-evaluate for the Ministry to synthesize opinions and report to the Prime Minister.

Phuoc Tuan