According to the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Management Board, the HC1-02 underpass has completed about 90% of the volume.
The traffic opening target on January 31, 2026 is not a general announcement, but a specific timeline, associated with very high traffic pressure during the Lunar New Year.
It should be recalled that, according to the initial plan, the HC1-02 underpass is expected to be put into operation before January 15, 2026.
If this time we don't reach the target as committed, it's not just a matter of technical progress, but a matter of trust.
People in Ho Chi Minh City are too familiar with delayed infrastructure projects, adjusting timelines many times.
But with An Phu, people expect to reach the finish line on time, because this is a traffic congestion point in the East of the city. On normal days, it is already jammed, and near Tet, it is even more serious. Cars from the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway are stopped at the traffic light intersection, causing prolonged congestion.
Faced with that reality, the HC1-02 underpass is not simply a construction item, but a "pressure release valve" for the entire area. When the tunnel is put into use, the flow of vehicles going straight will be separated from the intersection, significantly reducing traffic conflicts.
According to calculations, along with the N3 bridge branch expected to be opened to traffic in the first quarter of 2026, traffic congestion in An Phu may decrease by up to 80%. This number may still be debated, but in the immediate future, it must be completed and put into operation.
From the An Phu story, many lessons can be drawn for other infrastructure projects in Ho Chi Minh City on ensuring progress. Decision No. 869/QD-UBND defines the implementation phase of the An Phu intersection project as 2021 - 2025, but then has to postpone the completion milestone to the second quarter of 2026.
This adjustment reflects objective obstacles in terms of site clearance, technology, and construction organization. However, the more important lesson is to assign specific responsibilities to each progress milestone, avoiding the situation of many meetings, many commitments but still delayed progress.
People do not care how many meetings the project has, how many reports or how many beautiful numbers on paper. What they need is a smooth road, an afternoon home without traffic jams for hours, and a year-end trip home without being stuck in traffic jams.
Transport infrastructure, in the end, is to serve real life, not to illustrate plans.
Therefore, the HC1-02 underpass is no longer a "back door". Opening to traffic on schedule is not only a technical requirement, but also a commitment to the city's people.
By doing that, An Phu will not only reduce traffic jams, but also restore the belief that large infrastructure projects in Ho Chi Minh City can be said and done.
