An Phu interchange overpass completed after two delays

Branch N4 at Ho Chi Minh City's largest interchange opens on 22/8, now largely complete, easing traffic for vehicles entering and exiting Cat Lai port and the Long Thanh expressway.

The N4 overpass branch (left) was largely completed on the afternoon of 20/8. Originally scheduled for June, its completion was delayed to late July before its opening.

The N4 branch allows vehicles from Dong Van Cong street to turn right onto Mai Chi Tho boulevard, leading to the Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay expressway and Vo Nguyen Giap street. The adjacent N3 branch opened four months ago, serving traffic in the opposite direction.

The An Phu interchange project features a three-level design, incorporating two underpasses and multiple overpasses for vehicles turning in various directions. The ground level includes a central roundabout and an iconic tower. With a total investment exceeding 3.400 billion VND, the project began construction in December 2022 and was initially slated for completion in April 2025 but has encountered delays.

Similar to branch N3, the N4 bridge is curved and approximately 468 meters long. Both branches have similar designs, with a combined investment of about 236 billion VND.

The bridge is 9 meters wide, featuring two lanes designed for a speed of 50 km/h. Asphalt paving, lane markings, and lighting are complete. Its curved starting point connects to Ba Dat bridge and Dong Van Cong street.

The bridge has an approximate clearance of 5 meters, curving over Mai Chi Tho street towards Hanoi Highway.

Workers are installing the final sections of the handrails before the opening. The steel handrails, approximately 2 meters high, feature stylized Ho Chi Minh City symbols.

Along with the underpasses, the project creates a three-level interchange on Mai Chi Tho boulevard. Once both bridge branches are operational, vehicles can travel directly to Cat Lai port and vice versa. This new route helps separate traffic flows, particularly for container trucks, thereby reducing congestion at the interchange.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects, the investor, stated that with the N4 branch now operational, the main components at the Mai Chi Tho - Dong Van Cong intersection are largely complete. Construction will now focus on the area connecting Mai Chi Tho with the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway and Luong Dinh Cua street.

At this location, a bridge branch for vehicles traveling from Mai Chi Tho towards Vo Nguyen Giap to turn left onto the expressway is currently under construction, with an anticipated opening in October.

Previously, several components were already operational, including an overpass branch for vehicles turning right from the expressway onto Mai Chi Tho boulevard (towards Vo Nguyen Giap) and two underpasses on Mai Chi Tho, both contributing to reduced congestion in the area.

An Phu stands as one of Ho Chi Minh City's largest interchanges, connecting the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway with key arteries: Mai Chi Tho, Luong Dinh Cua, Nguyen Thi Dinh, and Dong Van Cong. This area acts as a vital gateway to Cat Lai port, managing a substantial volume of container trucks, with an average of over 20.000 trips daily.

The N4 bridge branch before its opening day. Video: Quynh Tran