The workers of HCMC’s first metro line are restoring a road section in District 1 after it had become a construction site for seven years. 

The construction site for the underground station at the road section that intersects Le Loi, Pasteur and Nguyen Hue Street will be restored before April 30, officials have said. Restoration work on the rest of the metro line No.1's construction sites will be done by the end of this year.

At the construction site that has an area of about 3,000 m2, dozens of workers and machines are working hard to return the road section to its original status. 

On April 4, about 30 workers were doing clearance work before the restoration work could begin. 

Large drainage culverts are placed deep under the surface of Le Loi Street. This is an important part of the work. The culverts have to be connected correctly to the drainage system of the city.

At the same time, the contractor is coordinating with the water supply company to ensure the needed pipelines are laid. Many trucks have been carrying water pipes to the site in recent days.

According to the construction unit, the electrical system, cables, telecommunication line and lighting system will be installed on this road section before it is asphalted. 

At the intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi streets, the ground is being flattened. 

Some workers are laying the base for the sidewalk of the road section that is being restored. 

A worker named Binh uses a shovel to put mortar under the culvert. 

"All workers are working hard to keep up with the schedule and hope to speed up the city’s metro project,” Binh said.

About 40 m of the barriers at a hotel on Le Loi Street have been removed. Temporary barriers had been put up to prevent people from entering the construction site.

After removing the barrier, the sidewalk is being relaid. After the ground is smoothened, it will be paved with stone tiles.

The HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture has proposed that after the groundwork on Le Loi Street is completed, its sidewalks are expanded to create more space, connecting with shopping centers in the area. The proposal has also said the number of lanes on the street is reduced and the area for trees and public facilities be increased. 

The barrier on Le Loi, Pasteur and Nguyen Hue Street before being dismantled. The barrier had obscured the view, narrowed the space and affected the business of hotels and shops here for many years.

Alongside the road restoration, work continues at the underground station.

Metro No. 1, built with a total investment of VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion), is nearly 20 km long, with three underground stations and 11 elevated ones. Work on the underground station near the Opera House and Ba Son station began in 2014 and is 95 percent done. The Ben Thanh Central Station is 86 percent done. The metro line is expected to start operating next year.