According to the Da Nang Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050 has just been approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1287/QD-TTg dated November 2, 2023, there will be changes in the Da Nang urban transport network with new transportation infrastructure projects, including its role as a large logistics centre.

Da Nang’s traffic is increasingly modern. An overpass at different level of the Hue J-junction is seen from above. Photo: THANH LAN

With the goal of promoting internal strength and geographical location advantages, according to the city’s planning strategies by 2030, Da Nang will become one of the tourism, transportation and logistics centres and seaports of the country. Accordingly, Da Nang will become a logistics center, gateway for delivery and transportation by road, sea and air with localities and countries on the East - West economic corridor, in the ASEAN region and of international stature.

The planning will form class I, class II logistics centres and specialised logistics centre, along with that, appealing for investment from the community into transport services, waterway transport and mass public passenger transport routes, strengthening public transport combined with controlling the use of personal motor vehicles.

According to the plan, there will be many plans to develop the transportation network. Specifically, work has started on such projects as the Da Nang - Thanh My - Ngoc Hoi - Bo Y expressway connecting with the Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway, upgrading La Son - Tuy Loan expressway, National Highway 14B section through Da Nang reaching the scale of a 6-lane urban main road; National Highway 14G section through Da Nang reaching the minimum scale of a level IV road with 2 lanes, Nam Hai Van bypass (Hoa Lien - Hai Van and Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan sections), the construction of at-grade intersections connecting

As for airways, by 2030, the city will upgrade and expand the civil aviation area and aircraft apron to increase capacity to about 25 million passengers/year and become a specialised aviation logistics centre.

With a regard to the urban transport network, Da Nang will build the Western Ring Road 1 between the Western Ring Road and the expressway as well as research into the planning and construction of an underpass through the connecting airport the eastern with western parts. At the same time, adding new routes connecting from the Lien Chieu Port to the southern bypass of Hai Van - Tuy Loan tunnel, the route from the Western Ring Road to La Son - Tuy Loan expressway (behind the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park), connecting Nguyen Sinh Sac Street to extended Hoang Van Thai Street, from the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park to the new railway station to form the main axis East - West.

Besides road traffic, for the public transport system, Da Nang will continue to expand the public passenger transport network by bus to increase route coverage density and enhance connection with other modes and encourage other environmentally friendly transportation means such as electric buses, CNG and LPG.

Loading and unloading goods at the Tien Sa port. Photo: THANH LAN

At the same time, the city also eyes the building of 2 MRT lines, 11 LRT lines, 3 tourist LRT lines or other methods equivalent to transportation capacity and speed, a public transport line (urban railway or other equivalent method) connecting Da Nang with Hoi An in Quang Nam Province and Lang Co Town in neighbouring Thua Thien Hue Province.

Notably, the construction of parking lots, public parking spots and transit parking lots ensures that the land area for static traffic reaches 3-4% of the urban construction land area, encouraging the development of underground parking lots combined with commercial services.

With regard to railways, focus will be on building a high-speed railway and a national regular railway along the same corridor, running parallel to the expressway to the east, planning the Da Nang - Kon Tum railway connecting with the North - South national railway at the new Da Nang Station after 2030.

Notably, other projects include the relocation of the Da Nang railway station, building a new railway station in the area north of the intersection between Ba Na - Suoi Mo route and the highway in Hoa Son Commune, Hoa Vang District, the construction of railway logistics centre station in Hoa Lien Commune.

Especially, as for seaports, the under-construction Lien Chieu Port will become a cargo port and public service wharves and barges. It is designed with a capacity of 50 million tonnes/year by 2050, receiving ships of 100,000 tonnes or more, container ships with a carrying capacity of up to 8,000 TEU.

As for the existing Tien Sa Port, its function is gradually converted into an international tourist port in accordance with the investment and exploitation process of Lien Chieu Port.

The Tho Quang fishing wharf will continue serve as the general wharf area, public service, and defense and security wharf, welcome ships of 20,000 tonnes.

At the same time, heed will be paid to developing inland waterway passenger transport routes connecting the Tien Sa Port and Han River wharf, passenger transport routes from the Tien Sa Port around the Son Tra Peninsula, the Tien Sa Port - Lang Van tourist area - Son Tra island; Tien Sa - Cua Dai - Cu Lao Cham port route and Cu De river routes connecting to Hoa Bac and Hoa Vang, orientations for developing a dry port combined with Hoa Nhon Logistics Centre near the intersection of Hoang Van Thai Street and the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway, southern Hai Van area.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU