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Construction site of the East-West Highway, one of the most beautiful and modern roads in Ho Chi Minh City, races toward completion

These days, the construction site of the East-West highway in HCM city is bustling with nonstop activity, day and night, as workers rush to complete the project and put it into operation by next year. The highway stretches over 20 kilometers, with a wide cross-section comprising 10 traffic lanes. It begins in Binh Chanh Dist. and passes through Binh Tan, Districts 8, 6, 5, 4, and 1 before ending in District 2. This is not only one of the city’s key arterial routes but also among the most modern transport infrastructure projects in the country. Once completed, the East-West highway will ease inner-city traffic congestion, shorten travel time between areas, boost economic and social development, and help create a cleaner, more well-organized urban landscape along the Tau Hu – Ben Nghe canal.
  In the past, residents from Binh Chanh district who wanted to travel to downtown Ho Chi Minh City often had to spend hours stuck in traffic on the main roads. The long commutes were not only time-consuming but also exhausting, negatively impacting daily work and life. However, thanks to the East-West highway, travel time has been significantly reduced—now it takes only about 30 minutes to reach the city center, saving both time and transportation costs for the public. Moreover, the highway plays a vital role in connecting District 2 with District 1 via the Thu Thiem tunnel—Vietnam’s first modern underground tunnel. This tunnel has completely replaced the time-consuming Thu Thiem ferry and alleviated congestion from vehicles that previously had to detour through the often-jammed Saigon Bridge. This marks a major breakthrough in urban traffic planning, ensuring smooth connectivity between central areas and emerging urban zones such as Thu Thiem.
 
Even on weekends, hundreds of engineers and workers continue to work tirelessly, completing the final components such as lighting systems, sidewalks, and the approach roads to the tunnel. The Thu Thiem Tunnel is expected to open to traffic before the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet Tan Mao). According to Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, Director of the project management board, the new route will significantly ease traffic pressure on central districts and promote the development of the Thu Thiem urban area. In addition, the landscape along the Tau Hu – Ben Nghe canal has been noticeably improved, leading to a better living environment for local residents.
 
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan, acknowledged the contributions of nearly 10,000 households and hundreds of agencies that relocated and handed over land for the project. The project's completion was also made possible by the collective efforts to overcome difficulties, streamline administrative procedures, and maintain construction progress despite a sharp increase in material costs. The East-West highway is regarded as a model and one of the most modern roads in Ho Chi Minh City, with all technical infrastructure systems placed underground. It plays a key role in transforming the city’s urban landscape and driving socio-economic development.

♦ In the construction project of HCMC's East-West Highway, Thien An Construction and Mechanical Co., Ltd. is proud to participate in the piling works (specifically the construction of D1000, D1200 bored piles).