New tunnel to drive traffic circulation at HCMC gateway

The tunnel is built along Hanoi Highway in front of the new Mien Dong Bus Station, from where people can travel to other localities in the southeastern and central regions.

The tunnel stretches 670 meters long and eight meters wide to allow vehicles to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai Province.

When put into service later this month, it will be open to motorbikes and cars under nine seats only.

The tunnel is part of a bigger project to boost connectivity between HCMC and its neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai, both home to major industrial zones.

Costing VND437 billion ($17.56 million), the project comprises another tunnel for vehicles to travel from Dong Nai to HCMC, two overpasses, and a pedestrian bridge that will allow passengers to walk from an elevated station of the city's metro line No.1 to Mien Dong Bus Station.

The tunnel has a maximum height of two meters. It was basically completed in 2021 but due to Covid-19 social distancing rules, workers could not apply the finishing touches to the project until now.

The tunnel will now be equipped with a lighting system and painted with road markings.

A worker puts up traffic signs in front of the tunnel on Monday.

A worker applies screws onto a railing along the route leading to the tunnel.

With the tunnel delayed by Covid-19, vandals have taken the opportunity to graffiti the tunnel's wall.

The end of the tunnel on the side of Binh Duong Province will merge into a project to enlarge Hanoi Highway. The project is currently stuck at site clearance.

The overpass allows vehicles to move back and forth between HCMC, Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces as well as enter the new Mien Dong Bus Station.

Costing more than VND4 trillion ($160.56 million), the station is the largest of its type in the country, covering 16 hectares in Thu Duc City near Binh Duong Province.

Put into service in October 2020, it can serve more than seven million passengers a year, equal to 21,000 passengers or 1,200 departures per day. However, as it is far from the inner-city and lacks traffic connection, the station has failed to attract customers.

Phan Cong Bang, deputy director of HCMC’s Department of Transport, said in June that an overpass and tunnel in front of the station as well as the project to expand Hanoi Highway are among solutions expected to boost connectivity and bring more customers to the station.