The An Phu underpass turned into a swimming pool, unexpectedly flooding deeply just half a month after it opened to traffic.

Having just debuted less than half a month ago at one of Saigon's most expensive intersections, the HC1-02 underpass at the An Phu intersection caused drivers a moment of bewilderment when it suddenly transformed into an open-air swimming pool on the morning of February 16th.

An unwanted "transformation"

On the morning of February 16th, drivers traveling from Mai Chi Tho Boulevard towards the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway experienced an unexpected "water battle." A section of the tunnel, over 20 meters long, belonging to branch HC1-02, was suddenly submerged in water. According to observations, the water level at the lowest point reached nearly 50cm, turning the asphalt road into a small river right in the middle of the multi-billion dollar project.

The incident occurred in the early morning, forcing numerous vehicles to cautiously "test" the water level or turn around and choose a route to the surface to rejoin the highway. Images of cars "surfing" in the most modern underpass at the eastern gateway quickly became a hot topic of discussion among netizens.

The culprit revealed: When technology... runs out of steam.

Don't be quick to blame the unseasonal rains, because the real "culprit" comes from within. Representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Construction Project Management Board for Transportation Works (Transportation Board) quickly spoke out to explain this phenomenon.

The cause was identified as an electrical system malfunction that paralyzed the automatic operation of the pumping station. When the "heart" of the drainage system stopped beating, groundwater took advantage of the opportunity to backflow into the tunnel, causing localized flooding in the low-lying area.

Fortunately, the technical team arrived in time to fix the problem that same morning. To ensure there would be no "repetition" of this issue during the Tet holiday, authorities were stationed at the pumping station 24/7.

The impressive portfolio of the An Phu mega-project.

To understand why this incident has attracted so much attention, let's look at the project's incredibly impressive "brief profile":

Title: HC1-02 Underpass, a crucial link in the An Phu intersection. Launch Date: Opened to traffic on February 2nd. Technical Specifications: 480m long, 4 lanes, design speed 50 km/h. Investment Value: The construction contract for this underpass alone cost approximately 342 billion VND.

Tunnel HC1-02 does not operate independently but is directly connected to tunnel HC1-01 (which has been operational since June 2025). This dynamic duo is expected to be a "savior" helping vehicles traveling from Mai Chi Tho Boulevard onto the Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway escape the terrible traffic congestion at the An Phu intersection – where more than 20,000 container trucks pass through daily.

Expect the perfect look in Q2.

The An Phu interchange is not just a traffic project, but is also considered an infrastructure "wonder" at the eastern gateway, with a total investment of over 3,400 billion VND. Its impressive three-tiered structure includes an underpass, an overpass, and a central roundabout.

Although the initial plan was to complete the project by the end of 2025, after adjustments to the schedule, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has finalized the completion date for the entire project in the second quarter of this year. The recent flooding incident, while a minor setback due to an objective technical error, serves as a reminder of the importance of operating mega-projects in the complex geological conditions of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanks to prompt repairs, the An Phu tunnel has quickly returned to normal operation, continuing its mission of relieving traffic congestion at the city's gateway. Hopefully, in the near future, this "muse" of the transportation sector will operate smoothly so that drivers can confidently steer... or rather, confidently control the steering wheel!

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