Expediting transport projects linking Long Thanh Airport

As the deadline for completing phase 1 of the Long Thanh International Airport Project approaches, the urgency to advance the transportation infrastructure projects connecting this airport also intensifies.

Construction of Provincial Road 25C Project (section from National Highway 51 to District Road 19, phase 1). Photo: Pham Tung

In the initial phase of serving Long Thanh Airport operations, road routes play a key role.

Accelerating construction

Currently, to facilitate traffic connectivity from Long Thanh Airport to localities, especially Ho Chi Minh City, 6 projects for constructing, upgrading, and expanding road routes are underway in the province, including: Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway section on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway; Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, and projects for constructing Provincial Road 25C (section from National Highway 51 to Huong Lo 19, phase 1), upgrading Provincial Road 25B (section from Nhon Trach commune center to National Highway 51).

According to the set targets, these projects must be basically completed in the first half of 2026, coinciding with the completion of the Long Thanh Airport Project phase 1.

Currently, for the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, 55 out of 58km of the project have been completed, with 30km put into operation. Another essential item of the project under construction is Phuoc Khanh Bridge, which has completed over 95% of its volume. "If the current pace is maintained, Phuoc Khanh Bridge is expected to be completed in Q2 of 2026," said Dang Huu Vi, Deputy Director of the Southern Expressway Project Management Board (under Vietnam Expressway Corporation).

Meanwhile, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway and Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City projects have accelerated construction recently, making up for previous delays. Specifically, Component Project 3, Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, was technically opened to traffic at the end of 2025. The Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway expansion project started construction at the end of 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with Long Thanh Bridge to be completed in Q1-2027.

Component Project 1, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, is requested by the Provincial People's Committee to be completed and put into operation before April 30, 2026. Photo: Pham Tung

For the two provincial road projects 25B and 25C, construction progress has not met requirements recently. Therefore, during an inspection of these projects on February 27, Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha requested that the investor, the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, direct contractors to accelerate construction to complete the projects in June 2026.

Removing the "bottleneck" of site clearance for 2 projects

Currently, among the 6 traffic projects being implemented to connect Long Thanh Airport, 4 projects have basically completed site clearance, including: Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway section on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, and Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City.

In a document sent to relevant units regarding the urgent organization of project construction after the Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, the Provincial People's Committee requested that Component Project 1, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, and Component Project 3, Ring Road 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, must be completed and put into operation before April 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, for provincial road projects 25B and 25C, site clearance remains the most significant "bottleneck" hindering construction progress.

According to the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, for the Provincial Road 25B Upgrade Project, approximately 70% of the total site area has been handed over. The project's current implementation value is about 44% of the signed contract value. For the Provincial Road 25C Construction Project, only about 35% of the site area has been handed over. The project's implementation value is currently only about 0.5% of the signed contract value.

Given the "sluggish" progress of these projects, during a field inspection on February 27, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut requested that units and localities complete site clearance by March 2026.

According to Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut, the projects to upgrade Provincial Road 25B and Provincial Road 25C are significant for connecting to Long Thanh Airport. Therefore, site clearance cannot be delayed further to facilitate construction. "The Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, as the project owner, must urge contractors to increase personnel and machinery to accelerate construction. Construction must begin immediately wherever the site is handed over," comrade Nguyen Van Ut requested.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho