The East-West Highway, which runs through eight districts, is a key project of HCM City’s urban traffic infrastructure system. It was built with total capital of US$762 million, of which 65 percent coming from the Japanese Government’s ODA loans and the rest from the city’s budget.

The tunnel, which is 1,490m long and 33m wide, is an important section of the 22km East-West Highway. It has six lanes which can carry around 45,000 automobiles and 15,000 motorcycles a day. It has a speed limit of 60km per hour and a projected operational life of 100 years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan said “This project indicates the creativeness and the dynamic thinking of the leadership of HCM City.”

Quan explained that in the first years of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, the leadership of HCM City tried to seek solutions to traffic problems caused by a rapid increase in private transport, especially motorbikes, affecting traffic safety.

The city spent US$220 million on site clearance, resettling 1,000 households affected by the project in districts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh.

“The East-West Highway will help develop the new urban area of Thu Thiem into one of the biggest financial-commercial and service centres in the region,” said Quan.

At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai acknowledged the great efforts made by HCM City to complete the East-West Highway project on schedule.

The highway will help reduce travel time and ease traffic congestion in the inner city while at the same time facilitating urban development in the eastern part of the city, said Hai.

He also asked relevant agencies to effectively manage and operate the Thu Thiem tunnel and the East West Highway.

On the occasion, President Truong Tan Sang awarded the Labour Order, Second Class, to the HCM City Urban Transport Investment and Construction management board for the completion of the project.