Vehicles from the Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay expressway turn onto the T2 road, pass through the Long Thanh interchange, and then merge onto the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway towards the coastal city.

The Long Thanh interchange, which began construction in 7/2023, aims to link the Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay expressway with the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and the T2 road of Long Thanh airport. This complex traffic hub is part of two concurrent projects: component 2 of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and the T1, T2 connection road, which is component 3 of the Long Thanh airport project.

The routes of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, and the location of Long Thanh airport. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

The T2 road runs parallel to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, facilitating connections between the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway and the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. Vehicles traveling from the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway towards Ho Chi Minh City will turn right onto the T2 road to access the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. Conversely, vehicles from Ho Chi Minh City on this expressway wishing to go to Vung Tau will also use the T2 road to connect to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway.

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Situated amidst a hydrological lake, the interchange required the construction of several bridges by the contractors.

On 18/5, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway (in the middle) was temporarily opened to traffic along its entire length, exclusively for vehicles with fewer than 9 seats. The two T2 branch roads for Long Thanh airport are located on either side.

{"caption_all":null,"caption_items":["Yesterday afternoon, a section of the interchange was opened to connect the two expressways, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay, allowing drivers to avoid an 18 km detour around the interchange. The contractor installed directional signs to guide drivers.","Contractors removed barriers, allowing vehicles from the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway to connect to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway via the T2 road."]}"}

As some sections of the interchange are not yet complete, other connecting routes on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway remain barricaded for safety. According to Project Management Board 85, these routes are expected to open next month (June).

{"caption_all":null,"caption_items":["The branch from the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway towards Dong Nai - Ba Ria, leading to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway and then to the center of Ho Chi Minh City, is currently blocked.","The turn from the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, heading North to South, down to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway towards Ba Ria, is also blocked."]}"}

The Long Thanh interchange is illuminated at night with lights installed along many sections.

The Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway spans almost 54 km, designed to alleviate congestion on National Highway 51, which frequently experiences traffic jams. The Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay expressway is about 55 km long, serving as a vital route for vehicles traveling from the city to the North. Long Thanh airport, the largest airport in the country, is projected to be completed by late 2026.

Phuoc Tuan