360-degree photo: Kim Dong - Giai Phong underpass accelerates to the finish line

This is a very special tunnel that has to be built over a railway, the narrow space makes the project face many difficulties. However, the contractors and investors are still trying to overcome the difficulties to bring the project to the finish line, according to the set schedule.

In 2022, the Hanoi People's Committee started construction of the underpass through the Kim Dong - Giai Phong intersection, with a total investment of 778 billion VND, from the city budget. The starting point of the underpass connects with the Ring Road 2.5 project, Dam Hong - National Highway 1A section. The end point connects with Kim Dong Street. The section through the tunnel organizes traffic with 2 lanes each way, 3.5m wide/lane, the section outside the tunnel organizes traffic with 3 lanes each way, 3.5m wide/lane.

After nearly 3 years of construction, the project has completed many major items. At the construction site, dozens of workers and modern machinery were mobilized to work in 3 shifts continuously. Facing many difficulties in construction under the railway, traffic pressure and site clearance problems, Hanoi and contractors have implemented many solutions: 3-shift construction, strong mechanization, prioritizing night time frames; removing each bottleneck of site clearance, restarting construction of related sections, strengthening traffic regulation, repairing lighting systems and signs to reduce congestion around the construction site.

The roadmap to the finish line is clearly set out: Before July 30, 2025, the H3B and H4B closed tunnels will be completed; before October 31, 2025, the project will complete the drainage pumping station; by the end of 2025, all infrastructure, painting, lighting, and traffic organization will be completed; technical traffic will be opened in the first quarter of 2026. If everything goes well, the entire project can be completed in 2025; however, the Management Board and the contractor still prioritize efficiency and safety, determined to reach the finish line in the first quarter of 2026.

Video reporter records project progress as of September 2025:

The underpass project at the Kim Dong - Giai Phong intersection (belonging to Ring Road 2.5) has a total investment of about 778 - 800 billion VND, starting construction from October 2022.

With a total length of 890 meters, including a 140-meter-long closed tunnel and a 320-meter-long open tunnel; each direction will have 2 lanes inside the tunnel and 3 lanes outside the tunnel, 3.5 meters wide/lane.

The project belongs to the 5th underground tunnel system of Hanoi Capital.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trang, Deputy Director of the Cenco4 Contractor Management Board, the construction unit of the Kim Dong - Giai Phong tunnel: "The unit mobilized dozens of workers and many modern machines to continuously work in 3 shifts at the construction site to deploy the 5th closed tunnel segment out of 8 tunnel segments. Currently, 3 tunnel segments pass through the railway section, the unit is currently excavating the ground and preparing to pour reinforced concrete structures, expected to be completed by the end of November".

The newly completed underpass passes through the Tourist housing area on Kim Dong Street.

Giai Phong - Kim Dong intersection, construction units speed up to the finish line.

After nearly 3 years of construction, the project has completed many major items.

At the construction site, workers and modern machinery work in 3 shifts continuously.

There is still a house on the project site that has not been cleared.

The house is located on the Red Lake side.

This seriously affects the project's progress, with a series of items being shelved and waiting.

Previously, the Ring Road 2.5 project was approved by Hanoi City and assigned to Hanoi departments and agencies for implementation, but after more than 10 years it has not been completed. The main reason is that the section through Hoang Mai (from Dam Hong to Kim Dong) has been suspended for many years due to land clearance problems.

The most difficult part was constructing 3 closed tunnel segments through 6 active railway lines. This required drilling 37/40 bored piles, testing support beams, took 3 months of construction and was only done in 4 hours each night to ensure safety and not affect the train schedule.

This complex work has slowed down progress and increased the risk of missing the plan.

Mr. Tran Dinh Hoc, Director of 1/5 Transport Mechanical Joint Stock Company, the contractor of package 01 of the Ring Road 2.5 project, said: "We are implementing the sidewalk and underground construction items. The unit will complete the items of the L3 bridge area across the Lu River to connect to the Kim Dong - Giai Phong underpass. It is expected that in 2025, package 01 of the project will be completed."

At the end of May 2025, Hoang Mai - Hanoi Construction Investment Company Limited coordinated with relevant agencies to organize the Restart Ceremony of the Ring Road 2.5 Project, Dam Hong section to Kim Dong underpass.

The project is not only part of Hanoi's transport infrastructure development plan for the 2021-2025 period, but is also a landmark project in the roadmap to complete Ring Road 2.5 and reduce congestion at the southern gateway.

It is expected that Kim Dong underpass will be completed and put into operation in the first quarter of 2026.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/anh-360/anh-360-do-ham-chui-kim-dong-giai-phong-tang-toc-ve-dich-20250921101512445.htm