National Highway 51 Renovation Faces Delays, Public Dissatisfaction

National Highway 51, stretching over 72km and connecting Dong Nai City to Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the busiest routes in the southern region, handling approximately 80,000 vehicle turns per day and night, eight times its original design capacity. The dense traffic, particularly from trucks and containers, has led to severe road degradation and frequent congestion, especially along the 35km stretch through Dong Nai City. Consequently, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee has allocated over 600 billion VND (approximately $2.5 million) for the repair and upgrade of this section, which began in March 2026. Traffic jams have been a long-standing nightmare for drivers and residents. The ongoing construction has narrowed the road, resulting in prolonged and continuous gridlock day and night. Dao Quang Hung, a container truck driver from Long Hung ward, Dong Nai City, expressed his difficulties, stating, "Normally, it takes about two hours to reach my destination, but now it takes double the time. We agree with the repairs, but there needs to be a plan to alleviate congestion, as it's extremely difficult for drivers and costs are increasing." Nguyen Dai Hung, a truck driver on National Highway 51, echoed these sentiments: "Road repairs are essential, but construction must ensure safety and reasonable traffic management. It's too arduous to drive here. Normally, it takes me about two hours from Nhon Trach to Bien Hoa; now it takes four hours." Residents living along the highway are also frustrated by the unresolved local issues arising from the construction. Mr. Van Kim Than from Long Thanh ward reported, "The repairs have created ditches, potholes, and unfinished median barriers, causing many motorcyclists to fall and get injured. There are no separate lanes for motorcycles, leading to vehicles falling into ditches, especially during rain and at night. This needs improvement; I have witnessed many severely injured victims requiring emergency medical attention. Most recently, on the evening of July 29, a mother and her two children on a motorcycle fell and were injured." In response to these complaints, the Long Thanh Ward People's Committee has petitioned the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee to direct the investor and contractors to accelerate progress and ensure the safety of residents and vehicles. The renovation and upgrade of the entire National Highway 51 section through Dong Nai City was planned for completion in 2026, divided into two phases. Phase one involved constructing a 22km section with a budget of approximately 360 billion VND (around $1.5 million), scheduled to be completed within four months from March. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Transport's Planning, Construction Inspection, and Road Maintenance Center, the project's investor, acknowledged that increased traffic volume at certain times during construction has caused congestion. He expressed hope for public understanding regarding the temporary inconveniences, stating, "We have requested contractors to provide sufficient signage, barriers, traffic guidance personnel, and to organize construction reasonably to minimize disruption to traffic flow. Functional units regularly inspect the site, coordinate with supervisory consultants and contractors to resolve difficulties, urge progress, and remind contractors to adhere to safety plans." Leaders of the Dong Nai City Party Committee and People's Committee have conducted multiple inspections and demanded that relevant units address the congestion and safety issues caused by the construction. According to Mr. Ho Van Ha, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, the authorities have requested the Department of Construction to instruct contractors to fully equip the site with signage, traffic lights, and traffic controllers. He also called for narrowing the fenced-off areas, avoiding sprawling construction, and focusing on completing sections decisively. Contingency plans for emerging situations, especially during peak hours and weekends, are needed, along with coordination with Ho Chi Minh City to implement early and long-distance traffic diversion. He further instructed the provincial police to strengthen traffic control and diversion forces at congestion points, coordinate to promptly handle traffic safety incidents, and ensure the safety of people and vehicles on National Highway 51. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan affirmed that to complete the project soon, contractors will be urged to mobilize maximum human resources, machinery, and equipment. Remaining construction must strictly adhere to safety plans to prevent recurrence of past issues. In cases of contractor violations, the investor will consider terminating contracts and replacing them with other units. By Thien Vuong - Nhat Son