The 22km western section of the Ben Luc expressway has been opened to traffic.

The contractor is rushing to accelerate construction work to complete the 22km western section of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway.

On December 16th, Mr. Pham Hong Quang, General Director of the Vietnam Expressway Investment and Development Corporation (VEC), stated that they are focusing all available resources on constructing the nearly 22km section from the National Highway 1 intersection (Binh Chanh District) to the Nguyen Van Tao road intersection (Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City). This section is expected to be completed before April 30th, 2025.

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan inspected the progress of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway construction, and requested the investor and contractors to focus on construction and bring the project into operation as soon as possible.

This section comprises three contract packages: A2-1, XL-A2.2, and A.3. The overpass section of National Highway 50 has been completed and one branch on the left has been put into operation, contributing to reducing traffic congestion on National Highway 50. The right branch of the overpass is currently under construction, with girder casting on scaffolding. The contractor is also completing the construction of the roundabout.

From the National Highway 1 intersection towards the Nguyen Van Tao intersection, cars can travel smoothly. The main road section has been basically completed, from the base to the surface. Some bridge abutments are currently being backfilled by contractors. Expansion joints are being constructed on some bridges.

On the road section, the contractor is simultaneously implementing various tasks including the construction of cement-soil piles, the construction of access roads in previously unfinished sections, and the excavation of organic matter in sections that have not yet been completed. They are also plowing and compacting the unfinished roadbed sections (K95, K98, subbase, and base) to prepare for the construction of subsequent layers.

Corporation 319 has paved several sections of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway with asphalt concrete to expedite completion and handover to the investor.

The 319 Corporation is one of the units in the consortium constructing package XL-A2.2-4 of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project. Colonel Khuong Van Thuy, Deputy General Director of the 319 Corporation under the Ministry of National Defense, who is in charge of construction supervision at the project, stated that the package has a total length of 8.4km, from Ong Thin Bridge to the border with Binh Khanh Bridge and the Nguyen Van Tao intersection.

Workers are installing steel reinforcement in preparation for pouring expansion joints.

Over the past few days, asphalt paving has begun from Ong Thin Bridge to Ba Lao Bridge. The rainy weather is making construction difficult, requiring contractors to monitor the work closely. The main section from Ba Lao Bridge to Binh Khanh Bridge has also been paved with asphalt. The elevated section is currently undergoing cleaning and waterproofing of the bridge deck; asphalt paving will begin in the coming days when the weather improves.

According to the plan, the asphalt paving work is scheduled to be completed by March 30, 2025, but the contractor will mobilize additional manpower and equipment to complete it earlier. Along with the asphalt paving, the contractor will also install guardrails, expansion joints, and paint road markings to ensure timely handover to the investor for operation as planned.

The Binh Khanh Bridge is currently under construction, with cable tensioning and girder casting underway. It is expected to be completed in March 2025.

The Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway has a total length of 57.8km, of which the western section, from the Trung Luong Expressway to the Nguyen Van Tao interchange, is nearly 25km long. Of this, the 3.4km section from the Trung Luong Expressway interchange to National Highway 1 will be put into operation at the end of this year. The public will be able to use it free of charge. The 22km section from the National Highway 1 interchange to Nguyen Van Tao will be put into operation on April 30, 2025.

In the East, the nearly 7km section through Dong Nai from Phuoc An port to the intersection with National Highway 51 will also be put into operation before Tet. Some remaining sections through Nhon Trach are being accelerated after being halted and then restarted.

The route includes two large cable-stayed bridges: Binh Khanh Bridge and Phuoc Khanh Bridge. Binh Khanh Bridge, spanning the Soai Rap River and connecting Nha Be with Can Gio, is currently undergoing cable tensioning and girder casting. The main bridge span is expected to be joined by the end of May 2025, with completion by the end of August 2025.

The Phuoc Khanh Bridge, spanning the Long Tau River and connecting Can Gio with Nhon Trach, has not yet resumed construction because the investment plan has not been approved by the competent authorities. This is despite the fact that VEC has completed the bidding procedures and selected a contractor.

The total investment for the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway is nearly 30,000 billion VND. The project is invested by the Vietnam Expressway Investment and Development Corporation.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/thong-xe-22km-doan-phia-tay-cao-toc-ben-luc-long-thanh-dip-30-4-192241216142303605.htm