The damaged sections are concentrated in the HC1-01 underpass branch on Mai Chi Tho street, heading from Vo Nguyen Giap boulevard towards the center of TP HCM. In some areas, potholes measure about 20 cm wide, 10 cm deep, and nearly one meter long, appearing close together. Many sections form horizontal rows, making it impossible for drivers to avoid them, causing vehicles to jolt continuously.

The damaged sections form horizontal rows in the open underpass segment, 2/10. Photo: Giang Anh

"Some vehicles traveling quickly only spot the potholes at the last moment, forcing drivers to brake suddenly, which can easily lead to collisions," said Van Quang, 35 years old. According to him, when cars hit these sunken road sections at high speeds, they jolt violently, potentially damaging tires and rims.

Beyond HC1-01, many drivers using the An Phu interchange also report degradation of the road surface above the underpass, with some sections peeling. This area frequently experiences congestion, further complicating vehicle movement.

Le Ngoc Hung, Deputy Director of the TP HCM Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects, stated that the potholes appeared at the underpass's expansion joints. The structural layer above came loose after recent periods of heavy rain. The construction unit has acknowledged the damage and is conducting repairs, which are expected to be completed by 10/10.

"These locations require multiple repair stages. The high volume of traffic through the underpass means that the repair time is longer than for typical road damage," Hung explained.

Potholes at the underpass entrance. Photo: Giang Anh

The HC1-01 underpass features four lanes for oto, with two lanes in each direction. It cost approximately 342 billion VND and is a primary component of the An Phu interchange, having been in operation for over one year. This structure, along with the HC1-02 underpass, allows oto to travel continuously in both directions from the TP HCM - Long Thanh expressway to the Thu Thiem tunnel.

The An Phu interchange project began construction in late 2022, with a total investment exceeding 3,400 billion VND. The project comprises three levels, including two underpasses, overpasses, and a central roundabout, making it the largest interchange project in TP HCM.

Location of the An Phu interchange. Graphics: Khanh Hoang

The project was initially slated for completion in late 2025 but has faced delays. The People's Committee of TP HCM approved an extension, pushing the completion deadline to Q3/2027. To date, in addition to the two underpass sections now in operation, several other major project components are complete. These include the overpass for vehicles turning right from the expressway onto Mai Chi Tho, the left-turn branch from Mai Chi Tho into Dong Van Cong, Ba Dat bridge, and Giong Ong To bridge. According to the design plan, the project's completion will also involve elevating and renovating the surrounding surface roads.

On the evening of 10/9, following heavy rain, the project experienced an incident when the HC1-02 underpass flooded to about half a meter deep, extending over 50 m. This affected both directions of traffic from Mai Chi Tho boulevard to the TP HCM - Long Thanh expressway and vice versa. The underpass subsequently closed for nearly one day for repairs.

Giang Anh