The underpass reopened at 13h45, allowing continuous vehicle flow between Mai Chi Tho boulevard and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. It had been temporarily closed since the night of 10/9 after heavy rain caused deep flooding in some sections, even with two pumps operating.
Pumping operations began overnight, but by the morning of 11/9, the water had not fully receded, necessitating the continued closure. This diverted a large volume of vehicles onto surface roads, leading to severe congestion at the interchange.
This morning, the Ho Chi Minh City Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects, as the investor, continued to coordinate with the Department of Construction, the Urban Drainage Company, and the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police to deploy additional pumps and tanker trucks for floodwater management.
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The underpass reopened on the afternoon of 11/9. *Photo: Ha Giang*
According to the investor, after the underpass reopened, two additional backup pumps were deployed to enhance response capabilities during heavy rain and reduce the risk of future flooding.
The HC1-02 underpass is a key component of the An Phu interchange project. This 480 m long structure directly connects the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway with Mai Chi Tho boulevard, following the route of the Saigon river tunnel. It features 4 vehicle lanes, with two lanes in each direction, and a design speed of 50 km/h. The underpass is equipped with lighting, fire prevention and fighting systems, and a pumping station. The construction contract for this section is valued at approximately 342 billion VND.
After its initial opening in early February, the HC1-02 underpass will connect with the HC1-01 underpass, which is scheduled to become operational from 6/2025 at the Mai Chi Tho - Dong Van Cong intersection. Together, these two underpasses will ensure continuous traffic flow between Mai Chi Tho boulevard and the expressway, significantly reducing congestion at the An Phu interchange.
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Location of the An Phu interchange. *Graphic: Khanh Hoang*
The An Phu interchange project, which commenced in late 2022, represents a total investment exceeding 3.400 billion VND. This three-level infrastructure project includes underpasses, overpasses, and a central roundabout.
Although initially scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the project has faced delays. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has since approved an extension, pushing the completion deadline to Q3/2027.
Giang Anh
