On the morning of February 10th, the Ring Road 2.5 project, specifically the Dam Hong - National Highway 1A section, officially opened for technical traffic after 12 years since its commencement. The 1.6km long project was invested in under a BT (build-transfer) contract, with a total investment of approximately 1,317 billion VND.
The opening of the road marks the end of a long and arduous journey for a project that had been suspended for an extended period.
For the people living along the route, this is not just a simple traffic event, but also a moment marking the end of more than a decade of significant disruption to their daily lives, travel, and businesses.
Images of the Ring Road 2.5 project, Dam Hong - National Highway 1A section, taken in May 2025 and February 2026. Photo: Song Huu
The 2.5 ring road section from Dam Hong to National Highway 1A opened to traffic on the morning of February 10th, 12 years after the project's commencement. Photo: Song Huu
The road has a 40m wide cross-section, accommodating 6 lanes of traffic. Photo: Song Huu
The Ring Road 2.5 project, specifically the Dam Hong - National Highway 1A section, commenced in 2014 and was expected to be completed in 2017. However, the project's progress has been delayed due to obstacles in land clearance and delays in extending the Build-Transfer (BT) contract.
By 2020, having only completed about 40% of the work, the project had to be temporarily suspended.
Construction will not resume until the end of May 2025 and will be basically completed, allowing for technical traffic opening on the morning of February 10th.
Living in Dinh Cong ward, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan said that for many years, her family and hundreds of households in the area have had to adapt to the situation of unfinished construction projects.
"There were times when the construction project would start and then stop, leaving building materials scattered everywhere. When it was sunny, dust flew everywhere; when it rained, the ground was muddy and slippery. The people here long for the road to be completed like people waiting for rain during a drought," Ms. Lan shared.
The prolonged construction work not only disrupts traffic but also affects the living environment. Many households have to keep their doors and windows closed all day to avoid the dust.
Vehicles traveling on the 2.5 Ring Road. Photo: Song Huu
Pedestrian walkway. Photo: Song Huu
On the morning of February 10th, when the road officially opened for technical traffic, Ms. Lan and some other residents stood on both sides of the road to watch and record images of the first vehicles traveling on the new route.
"After so many years of anticipation, seeing this wide and well-maintained road, all of us residents are overjoyed," said Mrs. Lan.
Bridge L3 over the Lu River. Photo: Song Huu
Some remaining items are currently under construction and nearing completion. Photo: Song Huu
Not only the residents, but also some businesses along the route have expressed their excitement. The case of Mr. Tran Van Hung is a typical example.
As the owner of a building materials store near Dam Hong area, Mr. Hung said that the prolonged project had caused a significant drop in business.
"There was a period when construction was halted for many years, and customers were hesitant to come because of the bad roads and dust. Revenue decreased significantly. We just hope the project will be completed," Mr. Hung said.
Twelve years after construction began, the road project has finally been completed. For Mr. Hung, this is not just a transportation project , but a relief from pressure and a fulfillment of the long-awaited dream of countless households for over a decade.
"People expect that when the infrastructure improves, business will flourish," said the 55-year-old man.
The Kim Dong - Giai Phong intersection underpass opened for technical traffic on the morning of February 10th. Photo: Song Huu
The tunnel under the railway line. Photo: Song Huu
People travel through the underpass. Photo: Song Huu
Also on February 10th, the underpass at the intersection of Ring Road 2.5 and Giai Phong Street was officially opened for technical traffic after more than 3 years of construction.
The commissioning of the underpass and the Ring Road 2.5 has contributed to a significant transformation of the transportation infrastructure in the southern area of Hanoi .
The connecting routes are smoother, traffic flow is redistributed, thereby significantly reducing congestion on many inner-city roads that are frequently overloaded.
Transportation infrastructure in southern Hanoi is gradually being completed. Photo: Song Huu
Construction machinery is working on the access roads on both sides of the underpass near Dam Hong. Photo: Song Huu
For the residents, the completion of these two projects not only means improved daily commuting conditions but also provides impetus for urban development.
Improved infrastructure is expected to attract more investment, increase property values, and gradually enhance the quality of life in the area.
Source: https://laodong.vn/xa-hoi/ha-tang-giao-thong-phia-nam-ha-noi-thay-doi-lon-1652839.ldo
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