HCMC begins construction on 41-m-deep station for 2nd metro line

Contractors have begun lowering the first steel reinforcement cages to a depth of 41 meters to construct the diaphragm wall for Pham Van Bach Station, one of 10 underground stations on the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong Metro Line, HCMC's second metro route.

Workers this week lowered the initial cages into an excavation pit near the Cong Hoa–Truong Chinh intersection to build the 1.2-meter-thick diaphragm wall. This milestone marks the project's official transition from the preparation stage to full-scale construction.

According to the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the diaphragm wall at Pham Van Bach Station will extend approximately 534 m. The construction of the 41-meter-deep wall is expected to take six months.

Engineers and workers lower a steel reinforcement cage during the construction of the diaphragm wall for the underground Pham Van Bach Station of HCMC's Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro line, July 2, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Ha Giang

During the building phase, the wall will retain soil and groundwater to ensure the excavation pit's stability. Once the station is completed, it will serve as a permanent load-bearing component of the overall structure.

MAUR emphasized that this phase requires a high level of technical precision, strict material quality control, and rigorous safety measures.

Pham Van Bach Station is strategically located at the gateway to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It serves as the final underground stop before Metro Line 2 transitions to an elevated section at Tan Binh Station. The station features two underground levels designed to house ticketing areas, operational facilities, and passenger platforms.

Phan Cong Bang, head of MAUR, stated that Pham Van Bach Station and Le Thi Rieng Station (on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street) will act as the primary launch sites for the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) excavating the underground routes.

Both stations have been prioritized for early construction which is scheduled to complete by the third quarter of 2027 to facilitate TBM installation and operation.

MAUR acknowledged that simultaneous construction along the route will impact local traffic. To mitigate congestion and minimize disruption to residents, the agency has established barriers, traffic diversions, and designated construction staging areas.

Construction of the Ben Thanh–Tham Luong Metro Line officially began in mid-January, backed by a total investment of over VND55 trillion (US$2.1 billion).

The route stretches nearly 11.3 kilometers in total length, which includes over 9 kilometers of underground track. The line has one elevated station besides the 10 underground, and a single depot.

The project is set to finish in 2030, linking downtown HCMC with the city's northwestern area.

HCMC currently operates one metro line, the 20-km Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien route, which connects downtown HCMC to Thu Duc City. Having officially opened in late 2024, it spans nearly 20 kilometers and is the city's first operational urban rail project.