On 3/10, the investor of the National Highway 13 expansion project began dismantling an 8-meter diameter sphere near Vinh Binh bridge, Lai Thieu ward.

A representative for the investor stated the structure is being dismantled to clear land for the project and ensure safety during the rainy season.

The steel and stainless steel sphere, weighing approximately 18 tons, was installed in 2013 by the former Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee, replacing a previous structure. It was part of the Binh Duong welcome gate, built with a budget exceeding 40 billion VND and inaugurated in 2010.

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The sphere is being dismantled for the National Highway 13 expansion project. Photo: Thai Ha

Over the past two days, workers used cranes to lower the sphere to the ground, then cut the steel structures for transport. Dismantling is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Two days prior, heavy rain and strong gusts of wind caused a steel welcome gate, approximately 5 meters high and 20 meters wide, on Huynh Van Luy street, Binh Duong ward, at the intersection with Pham Ngoc Thach, to collapse across the road. The incident caused no human casualties.

National Highway 13 is a main traffic artery connecting the former Binh Duong area with central Ho Chi Minh City. The project to expand the 13 km section from Vinh Phu welcome gate to Le Hong Phong intersection was launched in 2022 with a total capital of nearly 1,400 billion VND under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

The route is being expanded from 6 to 8 lanes. The section from Ong Bo bridge intersection to Le Hong Phong intersection has been completed and is in use.

Phuoc Tuan