HCM City (VNA) - Construction of adouble tunnel at An Suong intersection between Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12and Hoc Mon District was kicked off on January 19.

One tunnel extends from Truong Chinh Streettowards National Highway No 22, and the other in the opposite direction.

The project, with total capital of 514 billionVND (23 million USD), is expected to be completed within 20 months.

The total length of the two tunnels is about850m. Each two-lane tunnel is 9m wide and 125m long, with a ceiling height of4.75m.

The maximum speed for automobiles in the tunnelswill be 50km per hour.

The tunnel from the city’s downtown towards CuChi District will be exposed on one side at Truong Chinh Street for a distanceof 140 metres, and on the side of National Highway No 22 for 180 metres.

The other tunnel, from Cu Chi District towardsdowntown, will be exposed on the side of Truong Chinh Street for 140m and onthe side of National Highway No 22 for 120m. 

The tunnels, which will have a life span of 100years, were built to resist earthquakes measuring 7 on the Richter scale.

An Suong intersection is a junction of severalmain streets, including Truong Chinh Street, National Highway No 22 and No 1.

The tunnel work is expected to ease trafficcongestion at the intersection, which is known for numerous accidents andtraffic jams, said Vo Khanh Hung, director of Urban Traffic Management Unit No3.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport and the HCMCity People’s Committee plan to upgrade National Highway No 22 to thesouthwestern province of Tay Ninh, which will allow for ease of transport andbusiness between Vietnam and Cambodia at the Moc Bai Border Gate.-VNA