The project to expand National Route 50, a vital link between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, is nearing completion. A 7 km section through Binh Chanh district, from the Nguyen Van Linh intersection to the Long An border, began construction in late 2022. With a total investment of nearly 1,500 billion VND, the project is over 90% complete and expected to finish by late Q3 this year.

The project includes two main components: constructing a parallel road and expanding the existing route. On the afternoon of 26/5, the initial section at the Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard intersection was completed and opened for two-way traffic.

The 4 km parallel section, the first part implemented in the project, has completed many components such as sidewalks, greenery, and lighting systems.

The 3 km expanded section is now spacious and well-maintained, a significant improvement from two years ago when new construction began. The entire route has been widened from 8 m to 34 m, accommodating 6 lanes of traffic.

Approximately 3 km of the expanded section has completed many components including lighting, traffic lights, sidewalks, median strips, and greenery. Nguyen Van Huu, a food vendor on the street, said: "The road, now three times wider, significantly reduces traffic congestion in this area, and the surrounding infrastructure is also more synchronized."

The flyover at the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway intersection is now complete, a stark contrast to its unfinished state in 2023.

The expansion project concludes at Ong Thin Bridge, crossing the Can Giuoc River, bordering Tay Ninh province. Here, contractors are building an additional branch to expand the bridge to 6 lanes with two pedestrian walkways. The new route and Ong Thin Bridge are expected to be completed in June. The existing bridge will then be closed for reinforcement work.

Currently, about 250 m of the route remains unfinished, creating bottlenecks at both ends of the national highway. The Ho Chi Minh City Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects reported that the remaining site near Ong Thin Bridge was fully handed over after the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City resolved the final complaint.

The completed parallel road intersection with National Route 50 now ensures smooth traffic flow. The expanded National Route 50 will significantly enhance traffic and economic connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, and the Mekong Delta provinces. The project also links with other key routes such as the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Ring Road 3 (under construction), and Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard, completing the city's southern transportation network.

Route map of the National Route 50 expansion project. Graphic: Khanh Hoang

National Route 50, approximately 88 km long, starts from Nhi Thien Duong Bridge in District 8, passes through Can Giuoc district in Long An, and ends at Lo Dua in Tien Giang. This is an arterial road connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta provinces. However, the section within the city was narrow and served as the main access road to the Da Phuoc waste treatment complex, leading to frequent congestion and accidents.

Quynh Tran