VEC is focusing its efforts on accelerating the completion of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway.

After years of facing funding and implementation obstacles, the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway project is entering its final stages, aiming for completion of the entire route by the end of September 2026.

The Phuoc Khanh Bridge on the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway is expected to open to traffic in July 2026. Photo: Pham Tung.

According to the Vietnam Expressway Investment and Development Corporation (VEC), the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway project has a total investment of VND 29,586.914 billion, using loan capital from ADB, JICA, counterpart funds from the state budget, and capital arranged by VEC itself. The expressway is 57.8 km long, passing through Tay Ninh (formerly Long An), Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai .

Final sprint

This project connects the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway with the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, playing a crucial role as a key link in the southern economic region.

Furthermore, the completion of this expressway not only helps to complete the southern expressway network but also serves as a strategic connecting axis from the Mekong Delta to Long Thanh International Airport, creating a foundation for the formation of a large-scale logistics and aviation ecosystem, contributing to enhancing national competitiveness in the coming period.

After resolving obstacles and adjusting the Project, VEC re-tendered several packages and restarted construction along the entire route. To date, the total value of work completed on the implemented packages has reached approximately VND 15,465 billion, equivalent to 97.37% of the adjusted construction value.

Most of the construction packages have been completed, bringing the Project into the final stage. Currently, only two main packages remain under implementation: J3-1 (Phuoc Khanh Bridge) and XL-NG51 (National Highway 51 interchange), which have been identified as the "bottlenecks" that will determine the completion progress of the entire route.

Package J3-1 commenced on April 30, 2025, and is expected to be completed in July 2026. As of the end of September 2026, the output of Package J3-1 has reached 43.11%. The contractor is currently constructing key components of the Phuoc Khanh cable-stayed bridge, including the completion of concrete pouring for the main piers and the installation of 11 to 12 bundles of cable stays on the main span, while also carrying out the remaining work on the approach bridge.

Meanwhile, the XL-NG51 contract, which commenced on February 12, 2025, has currently reached approximately 64.16% completion. The contractor has completed 215 out of 220 D1200 bored piles and all D1000 piles, essentially completing the substructure of the overpass at the National Highway 51 intersection.

The Super-T girder sections are also progressing rapidly, with 203 out of 227 girder segments already cast and 139 out of 227 segments already installed. Simultaneously, construction of the bridge deck, railings, and roadbed at the beginning of the route is also being carried out concurrently.

Untangle the final knots.

Although overall progress has been achieved at a high level, land clearance remains the biggest bottleneck affecting construction progress, especially at the intersection with National Highway 51 and some sections passing through Ho Chi Minh City.

According to VEC, there are still 5 households that have not handed over the land at the intersection of National Highway 51, causing delays in road construction and affecting the ability to mobilize embankment materials. It is expected that some cases will be subject to forced eviction in April 2026 to hand over a clean site to the contractor.

In addition, the shortage of embankment materials has also caused some items to fall behind schedule, forcing contractors to adjust construction plans and increase resource mobilization.

Faced with these difficulties, VEC proactively coordinated closely with the People's Committees of the localities to resolve obstacles, and at the same time requested the Ministry of Construction to support in handling issues related to mechanisms and policies in order to accelerate the progress of land handover.

Simultaneously, the investor requested contractors to increase manpower and equipment, organize overtime work, and work even on holidays to catch up on the schedule, especially in key items.

"If the land and material issues are resolved completely in the near future, along with maintaining a high construction intensity, the goal of completing the project by the end of September 2026 is entirely feasible," a VEC representative stated.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/vec-don-luc-dua-cao-toc-ben-luc---long-thanh-tang-toc-ve-dich-d565660.html