Cầm chừng bất đắc dĩ
The expansion and upgrade of Duong Luong Dinh Cu Street, which began in April 2015, was expected to open up the eastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, providing a direct connection to the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway.
However, the project remains incomplete as only the first phase of the Tran Nao intersection to Nguyen Hoang Street has been opened to traffic. The section from Nguyen Hoang Street to An Phu intersection has been stagnant, despite expectations of completion a month ago.
As a result, the progress of the project directly affects the completion of the An Phu intersection.
The An Phu intersection awaits positive progress on the Duong Luong Dinh Cu upgrade project. Photo: NGOC QUY
Another major transportation project in the East of Ho Chi Minh City, the My Thuy intersection, raises concerns about its progress. Despite commencing the final phase of construction with a completion goal for April 2026, there are few positive indications.
Nearby, the Vanh Dai 2 Road (section 3), a 2.7-km stretch connecting Pham Van Dong Street to the Go Dua intersection on National Highway 1, shows little sign of progress since its inauguration in 2017. The construction site is quiet, with many items rusting and overgrown with grass, while locals use it as a shortcut or for grazing livestock. The remaining sections of Vanh Dai 2 Road also await land clearance to complete the 64-km long route.
In the city’s northwestern region, the expansion and upgrade of Pham Van Bach Street remain unfinished after 20 years, resulting in an unsightly and congested transportation situation. Commuters express their frustration with the road’s inconsistent width.
“This is a vital transportation artery adjacent to Tan Son Nhat Airport. If this road is cleared, it will reduce traffic pressure on Cong Hoa, Truong Chinh, and Quang Trung streets,” said Tran Ngoc Minh, a commuter who regularly travels through the area. She expressed her hope for an end to the ongoing construction.
Pham Van Bach Street is expected to end its long-drawn-out upgrade process. Photo: NGOC QUY
Nỗ lực, linh hoạt
Regarding the progress of the aforementioned projects, Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Works Construction Investment Management Board, shared that the local authorities, localities, and related departments are working diligently to resolve land clearance issues.
Specifically, for the My Thuy intersection project, Thu Duc City has handed over 145 out of 195 cases, and the remaining 50 are expected to be completed before June 30, 2025. Mr. Phuc also mentioned that while the land handover rate is over 70%, it is not contiguous, and the investor has shown flexibility by proceeding with construction on sections with cleared land. They are currently working on the mid-route steel bridge package and aim to open it to traffic by the end of 2025.
Regarding the Duong Luong Dinh Cu expansion project, the most significant land clearance issue is near the An Phu intersection. One side of the road has been completed, while the remaining section from Nguyen Hoang Street to the An Phu intersection requires the clearance of approximately 22,000 square meters of land in the An Phu residential area.
The investor has revised the land recovery plan for this area and submitted it to the relevant agencies. At a recent meeting, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Finance to propose a land recovery plan within one month to hand over to the investor for construction. “If we receive the land, we will promptly complete the bridge and the Duong Luong Dinh Cu section as soon as possible,” Mr. Phuc assured.
Sẵn sàng khi đủ điều kiện
Regarding the challenges faced by the Vanh Dai 2 Road project, the Director of the Traffic Works Construction Investment Management Board shared that the main issue is the contract payment procedure with the Van Phu Bac Ai investor, who had previously started but left the project unfinished. For segments 1 and 2, the Thu Duc City authorities are focusing on compensation and land clearance to hand them over to the investor by August 2025.
“The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has directed the relevant departments to propose a plan to resolve the BT contract with the investor this year to restart segment 3, ensuring synchronization with segments 1 and 2,” Mr. Phuc informed.
Speaking about the Pham Van Bach expansion project, Mr. Phuc mentioned that the project, spanning two decades, is entangled with 13 households disputing the boundary line, which the related departments are reviewing. Additionally, 97 households have not agreed to hand over the land due to disagreements over compensation prices. This project was previously carried out through a joint effort between the state and the people. To restart and complete the project, the Traffic Works Construction Investment Management Board has proposed that Tan Binh District continue to encourage households to hand over the land this year. “The local authorities are planning to promote this. If we receive the land, we will commence construction in early 2026,” Mr. Phuc asserted.
