Houses set back, national route 13 clear ahead of land handover deadline

A series of houses and schools along national route 13 have been dismantled and set back, clearing land for a project to expand the road to 60 m, with a total capital of nearly 21,000 billion dong.

Near Binh Trieu bridge, cranes continuously collected and cleared debris after the structures were dismantled. The entire project involves over 200 cases requiring complete clearance.

National route 13 expansion section from Binh Trieu bridge to Vinh Binh. Graphics: Tam Thao

Intensive efforts in Hiep Binh ward are ensuring that national route 13 is cleared and ready for its expansion project ahead of schedule. On 28/7, an aerial view revealed numerous rows of houses along national route 13, specifically the section through Hiep Binh ward, had been dismantled for land handover, presenting a distinct appearance compared to a month prior.

The national route 13 expansion project spans 6,3 km, from Binh Trieu bridge to Vinh Binh bridge, increasing its scale from 4-6 lanes to 10 lanes, making it 60 m wide. This significant infrastructure undertaking has a total capital of nearly 21,000 billion dong and is being implemented under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

Hiep Binh ward is currently intensifying efforts to mobilize residents to hand over land and dismantle structures, aiming to complete site clearance in line with the schedule requested by the People's Committee of TP HCM for july. This urgent push is critical for the project to proceed smoothly.

Near Binh Trieu market, numerous houses have been set back 6-10 m or completely demolished compared to one year ago. This visible transformation underscores the rapid progress of the clearance work.

According to the Hiep Binh ward People's Committee, as of 24/7, the locality had paid compensation for 1,036 out of a total of 1,041 cases, achieving a 99% completion rate, with costs exceeding 6,279 billion dong. Nearly 280,000 m2 of land has been recovered, equivalent to 70% of the area required for clearance.

The plan to expand national route 13, a road prone to frequent congestion, was first proposed in 2001 but has experienced multiple delays. While the section passing through the former Binh Duong area has been expanded, the route leading into central TP HCM remains narrow, with many "bottlenecks" causing traffic jams. The current expansion aims to alleviate this long-standing issue.

{"caption_all":"The gate of campus 2 of TP HCM University of Law was set back about 8 m to hand over land for the project. The school is urgently rebuilding its fence and new gate after clearance.","caption_items":"[null,null]"}

At the intersection of national route 13 and street number 2, many houses have been demolished and their land handed over, showing a clear change compared to a month ago. This particular section highlights the immediate impact of the clearance operations.

Local authorities are urgently arranging resettlement and processing outstanding petitions and disputes, aiming to complete land recovery for all 1,041 cases before 31/7. This comprehensive approach addresses both physical clearance and social support for affected residents.

{"caption_all":"Scattered along national route 13, a kindergarten and many households are hiring workers and machinery to demolish walls and collect debris. After handing over the land, homeowners continue to repair or rebuild structures on the remaining plots.","caption_items":"[null,null]"}

{"caption_all":null,"caption_items":["Along the route, about 8 houses, after having their front sections cleared, are left with just over 10 m2 and a narrow frontage.","After 80 m2 was recovered, Mr. Le Thanh Nghia's house and land plot remained at about 20 m2, shaped like a triangle. His family received approximately 9 billion dong in compensation.nnMr. Nghia stated that although the remaining area is small, it is still sufficient to build a one-story house with an upper floor for living. 'In recent days, the pace of land handover has been very fast. I hope the project starts soon to make travel more convenient,' he said."]}

Many houses along the route have been demolished, leaving behind scattered scrap materials, waste, and debris. Some homeowners have relocated, awaiting the complete clearance of their properties. These areas will soon be transformed into part of the expanded national route.

From now until 31/7, the locality expects to continue receiving land from the remaining about 150 cases, aiming to complete site clearance for the entire project this month.

According to the plan, the project is scheduled to commence late this year and be completed in two years. However, the Department of Construction recently proposed a delay until early next year for the groundbreaking, citing outstanding resettlement issues and the need to adjust the route to align with railway and infrastructure projects in the area.

National route 13, the section from Binh Trieu bridge to Vinh Binh bridge, is currently 20-30 m wide, frequently experiences congestion during peak hours, and floods during heavy rains and high tides. In addition to widening the road surface, an elevated bridge with four lanes will be built along approximately 3,2 km of the middle section, with parallel roads on both sides, significantly improving traffic flow and resilience to flooding.

Residents hand over houses for national route 13 expansion. Video: Quynh Tran