Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway: Slow progress due to site clearance "bottleneck"

After more than 2 months of construction, from August 19, 2025, the project to expand the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway section is behind schedule.

Although equipment, barges and human resources have been mobilized to the construction site, many items cannot be implemented synchronously due to problems with site clearance and technical design procedures.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway expansion project is one of the key traffic projects, with a scale of expansion from the existing 4 lanes to 8-10 lanes, with a total length of more than 20km, passing through Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai .

Workers install steel structures of bridge piers at the construction site of Long Thanh 2 bridge. Photo: HOANG HUNG

Currently, construction sites are mainly concentrated in the Long Thanh bridge area and the road expansion section towards the city center.

Along the route, many locations have been fenced and machinery has been gathered, but the actual construction volume is still modest compared to the progress requirements.

In the viaduct expansion sections, pile drilling and foundation installation have only been partially completed because the site has not been fully handed over. Some bridge piers, service roads and access roads are still not in a condition to be deployed simultaneously.

Many barges and mechanical equipment operate under Long Thanh Bridge to serve the construction of the extension. Photo: HOANG HUNG

At the Long Thanh bridge area – considered the biggest bottleneck – dozens of barges, cranes, and drilling rigs have gathered, almost completely covering the river surface, but many pieces of equipment remain "inactive".

In addition to the site clearance issue, the completion of technical drawings has not kept up with the progress of field construction.

Meanwhile, this project is being implemented using a "design-build" model, so any technical delays will directly impact the actual progress.

Barges and crane systems serving the construction of Long Thanh 2 bridge piers right next to the existing Long Thanh bridge, in Long Phuoc ward. Photo: HOANG HUNG

The construction unit representative said that if the site clearance points are handed over early and the design documents are completed on time, the construction teams can speed up to ensure the workload in the last months of the year.

This is considered a key factor to keep the project completion schedule as directed by the Government .

>> Images recorded at the construction site of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway expansion in late October 2025:

The highway facing the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the left extension is under construction for a public service road. Photo: HOANG HUNG

The construction site of the approach bridge in the Long Thanh area has gathered machinery, but many items are still "inactive" because they are waiting for land. Photo: HOANG HUNG

Construction of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway section through Long Phuoc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HOANG HUNG

Engineers and contractor representatives inspect and supervise the construction progress at the foot of Long Thanh bridge, on the Long Phuoc ward side, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: HOANG HUNG

HOANG HUNG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cao-toc-tphcm-long-thanh-cham-tien-do-vi-nut-that-mat-bang-post819761.html