Changing the 'formula' to reduce traffic jams in Ho Chi Minh City

Traffic black spots are increasing steadily.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has just issued a plan to coordinate the implementation of solutions to handle 24 traffic congestion risk points. Compared to the beginning of 2022, the number of congestion points has increased by 6 points, including: Hang Xanh Intersection; Tran Quoc Hoan - Phan Thuc Duyen intersection; Xang Bridge area on Tran Van Giau Street; Nguyen Van Linh - Pham Hung; Nguyen Thai Son - Pham Ngu Lao; Pham Van Dong - Phan Van Tri.

In the list of 24 "black spots", only 2 areas have recorded positive changes in recent times, which are the intersection of National Highway 50 - Nguyen Van Linh (Binh Chanh District) and the intersection of Nguyen Oanh - Phan Van Tri (Go Vap District). The remaining 8 areas have not changed and 14 areas have changed but are still complicated, including some "familiar congested" routes for city residents such as the area of ​​Ton Duc Thang - Nguyen Huu Canh - Nguyen Binh Khiem (District 1), Lang Cha Ca roundabout (Tan Binh District), My Thuy intersection, An Phu intersection (Thu Duc City), Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho intersection (District 7)...

The list of traffic jams by the Department of Transport is only "encapsulated" at 24, but many people in the city who travel every day report many other "congested" roads. Among them is Kenh Te bridge connecting District 4 to District 7. Admitting that the Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho intersection is the most serious traffic jam because there are many container trucks, Mr. Thanh Huy (Nha Be District) wondered why Kenh Te bridge, a nightmare for people in the southern part of the city, is absent from this list.

According to Mr. Huy, although the expansion project has been completed for more than 2 years, the increased area is still nothing compared to the number of vehicles regularly lining up on Nguyen Huu Tho Street. From Kenh Te Bridge, traffic jams continue to spread to Phuoc Kien area, especially at the section across Rach Dia 2 Bridge. Connecting Phuoc Kien Commune (Nha Be District) and Tan Phong Ward (District 7), this bridge "shoulders" a large number of vehicles pouring from the southern urban area of ​​the city towards the center.

Ho Chi Minh City is trying to coordinate many measures to reduce traffic congestion.

Not to mention, many inner-city routes are also gradually appearing on the list of "roads to avoid" for drivers. For example, vehicles traveling from District 4 to Tan Son Nhat Airport (Tan Binh District) to Phu Dong roundabout (District 1) used to turn onto Ly Tu Trong, then onto Truong Dinh to avoid the traffic jam on Cach Mang Thang 8 Street. However, for nearly a year now, the section from Truong Dinh - Ly Tu Trong to Truong Dinh - Nguyen Dinh Chieu has been congested almost every morning.

Faced with this situation, the Department of Transport only "dares" to set a goal of improving traffic conditions, gradually reducing the number of traffic jams and striving to eliminate at least one traffic jam risk point, which is the Xang bridge area on Tran Van Giau Street, Binh Chanh District. To control the remaining 23 points, the Department of Transport plans to focus on speeding up the construction progress of key projects such as the Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho underpass (District 7), An Phu intersection

(Thu Duc City), Tran Quoc Hoan - Cong Hoa connecting road (Tan Binh). At the same time, speed up procedures to soon expand Hoang Hoa Tham street (Tan Binh), build a steel bridge at Bon Xa intersection (Binh Tan). At the same time, improve the efficiency of exploiting existing traffic infrastructure such as renovating geometric dimensions, expanding visibility, strengthening gantry frames, painting roads, signs, installing traffic surveillance cameras and automatic speed measurement...

Can't wait for infrastructure to catch up with demand

In fact, although traffic jams are widespread, the "treatment" projects mentioned above by the Department of Transport have been "familiar" in the list of key projects from year to year. Every project has started construction late and the construction process is sluggish. Even in the southern part of the city, according to the plan of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (Traffic Board), important projects to relieve traffic congestion are being promoted from the beginning of 2022. At that time, the top priority mentioned was the Nguyen Khoi bridge and road project, which had completed the investment procedures and the city was waiting for additional capital allocation within the deadline. After being put into use, the project will connect from Him Lam apartment complex (District 7) to District 4 and connect to Vo Van Kiet street.

Along with that, Binh Tien overpass, extending from District 6 through Tau Hu - Ben Nghe canal, joining Nguyen Van Linh street, is expected to be implemented at the end of 2022, along with the project to expand National Highway 50. In addition, Nha Be District People's Committee has proposed to build axis 15B parallel to Huynh Tan Phat street, connecting to the starting point of Can Gio bridge. This is also the route of the north-south axis, contributing to reducing the load on the current traffic system, especially the Huynh Tan Phat - Nguyen Tat Thanh axis. However, all of these projects, which are considered extremely urgent, have not seen any movement so far.

Responding to Thanh Nien , the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport informed that from the second quarter of 2022, the Department of Transport and related departments and branches have focused on completing procedures to start construction of a number of key projects. In particular, the groundbreaking of the An Phu intersection with National Highway 50, the road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan - Cong Hoa (Tan Binh District) are the major projects that people are most looking forward to. The especially important inter-regional connection project, the Ring Road 3 construction project, is also being focused on, recording many outstanding progress milestones, determined to basically complete in the period from now to 2025. Metro Line 1 is also in the final stages of preparation for completion...

Important infrastructure projects, once completed, will certainly contribute to easing traffic bottlenecks in the city. At the same time, promoting inter-regional trade connections, increasing land exploitation, developing logistics services... will bring Ho Chi Minh City the opportunity to make a breakthrough in traffic infrastructure, promoting economic development in the coming period.

Complete 17 projects in the next 3 years

According to the list of key projects of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, there will be 17 projects completed in the period from 2022 to 2025 and 11 projects will start construction in the next 3 years. Specifically, some projects completed in 2024 include metro line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien); Nguyen Van Linh - Nguyen Huu Tho underpass (District 7); 3 bridges: Long Kieng (Nha Be), Tang Long, Nam Ly (Thu Duc City)... Projects completed in 2025 include: 4 main roads of Thu Thiem urban area; new Ong Nhieu bridge; upgrading Luong Dinh Cua street; North-South axis road in Thu Thiem new urban area; My Thuy intersection (Thu Duc City); Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3; Tan Ky Tan Quy bridge (Binh Tan District); Phuoc Long bridge (District 7 and Nha Be District)...

"After this period, Ho Chi Minh City's traffic will certainly improve. However, it is necessary to determine how to solve traffic problems in a megacity of more than 13 million people. We cannot aspire to rapid transformation or expect to build enough roads to meet all the travel needs of the people. We need a progressive process with well-planned programs in the medium and long term, adding more solutions so that the situation can gradually improve. That is why the city is focusing on promoting the application of technology, adding many non-structural solutions to improve the situation on the current limited infrastructure", the leader of the Department of Transport affirmed.

Thorough application of technology

Sharing more about the digital transformation plan of the city's transport sector, Mr. Doan Van Tan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Traffic Management and Operation Center, said that recently, the city has put into operation a traffic forecast simulation model in urban traffic management and planning. This system controls traffic lights in the city center according to flexible scenarios suitable for the actual traffic situation, organizing "green wave" traffic to optimize traffic flow, solving traffic congestion, especially at intersections. Currently, the camera system with direct data connection to the center is mainly concentrated in the central area including districts 1, 3, 5, 10. In addition to monitoring, these areas will have a system to collect traffic volume and speed of vehicles on the route, input into the model, thereby adjusting the traffic light system to suit each route in different time periods. Along with that, analyze, measure and proactively plan traffic jam scenarios to have timely solutions.

For areas where this model has not been applied, through the camera surveillance system, the center will promptly detect incidents and congestion points to notify drivers through many communication channels as well as notify the traffic police to quickly regulate and reduce the number of vehicles.

Traffic demand will reach over 41 million trips/day

With the "green wave" control scenario, vehicles traveling at an average speed of 30 - 35 km/h will be able to move smoothly through many continuous intersections on roads in clear traffic conditions. According to the Department of Transport, it is forecasted from the simulation model that by 2025, traffic demand in the city will reach over 41 million trips/day. The rapid increase in personal motor vehicles has led to serious overloading of the urban traffic network, especially during rush hour.

"In the coming time, the center has reported and proposed that the Department of Transport continue to expand the installation of additional surveillance cameras and traffic measurement systems to analyze and create scenarios for operating the traffic light system effectively. It must be determined that to reduce traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City, it is necessary to synchronize many solutions, combining infrastructure, technology and many other non-structural solutions, but with technology, it will greatly support proactively regulating traffic quickly and easily," said Mr. Doan Van Tan.

Overcoming traffic congestion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

On May 25, the Secretariat issued Directive No. 23-CT/TW on strengthening the Party's leadership in ensuring traffic order and safety in the new situation. The Secretariat said that traffic order and safety has been complicated in recent times, causing frustration and anxiety in society. Traffic order and safety has been loosened at times and in some places, and some violations have not been completely resolved. Resolving traffic congestion in some large cities and urban areas still faces many difficulties...

The Secretariat requested to tighten order and discipline, strictly handle all traffic law violations by traffic participants and those in charge of state traffic management. All acts of intervention or influence on the handling of traffic law violations by competent agencies are strictly prohibited.

The Secretariat requested to improve the legal system, promote decentralization, and clearly define responsibilities in state management of traffic. Accordingly, focus on reviewing and synchronously perfecting the legal system on traffic in the direction of clearly defining state management responsibilities for ensuring traffic safety in conjunction with ensuring security, order, social safety, building traffic infrastructure, and socio-economic development. "Build and promulgate the Road Traffic Safety Law and the Road Law to concretize a step of the above orientation," the directive stated.

Along with that, the Secretariat requested to fundamentally overcome traffic congestion in major cities, especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; strictly implement urban planning and traffic planning; pay attention to developing underground and elevated traffic systems. Strictly implement the roadmap to relocate headquarters of state administrative agencies, academies, universities, colleges, vocational schools, large hospitals, industrial production areas, etc. out of the city center.

Le Hiep

Traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City is still not over.

Solution to reduce congestion at 8 points does not change

1. Nguyen Thi Dinh Street (from My Thuy roundabout to Cat Lai port - Thu Duc City):

Study the plan to organize separate one-way traffic in and out at the intersection of Nguyen Thi Dinh - Road A of Cat Lai Industrial Park for the two land plots managed by Cat Lai Industrial Park and Ha Tien Cement Company; Study the plan to prohibit left turns and U-turns on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street at the intersection of Nguyen Thi Dinh - Road C of Cat Lai Industrial Park; Study the renovation of the intersection of Nguyen Thi Dinh - Road C of Cat Lai Industrial Park (opening a lane for two-wheeled vehicles to circulate inside, separate from the current car lane).

2. Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, District 4:

Study the plan to limit some types of vehicles allowed to circulate (especially during rush hours); Study the plan to renovate and expand the traffic lane on Tan Thuan 2 Bridge to ensure the traffic direction to District 7 is 6m and the direction to District 4 is 4m; Organize one-way traffic on Tan Thuan Bridge as before.

3. Cong Hoa - Hoang Hoa Tham intersection, Tan Binh District:

Research the overall traffic diversion plan for Tan Son Nhat airport area, especially traffic organization when projects such as Construction of Terminal T3 - Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Tran Quoc Hoan - Cong Hoa connecting road; Expansion of Tan Ky Tan Quy road... are completed (especially the area of ​​Cong Hoa - Tan Ky Tan Quy - Truong Chinh road).

4. Tran Quoc Hoan - Phan Thuc Duyen intersection, Tan Binh District:

Strengthen monitoring and timely adjustment of traffic organization to avoid traffic congestion due to the construction of Construction Package 9 (underpass at the intersection of Phan Thuc Duyen - Tran Quoc Hoan) under the project of building a road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan - Cong Hoa Street; Speed ​​up the construction progress of the project of building a road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan - Cong Hoa Street.

5. Truong Chinh Street (section from Au Co Street to Tan Ky Tan Quy Street), Tan Binh District:

Pilot study on the installation of mobile fences to close the openings of the median strip on Truong Chinh Street from Au Co Street to Ho Dac Di Street.

6. Dinh Bo Linh - Bach Dang intersection, Binh Thanh District:

Research on creating a continuous right turn lane from Dinh Bo Linh Street to Bach Dang Street; Strengthen the handling of illegal parking violations during rush hour on Bach Dang Street within 150m from Dinh Bo Linh Street towards Le Quang Dinh Street; Smoothly connect to create a smooth flow of traffic from alley 405 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh to the location of the road at the beginning of Son Bridge.

7. Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street (from Bach Dang to Dai Liet Si intersection), Binh Thanh District:

The study proposes a plan to ban cars from circulating on D5 Street (from Alley 42 Ung Van Khiem to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street) in the direction from Alley 42 Ung Van Khiem to Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street; Prohibit hourly parking on D5 Street (from Alley 42 Ung Van Khiem to Nguyen Gia Tri Street).

8.Hang Xanh Intersection, Binh Thanh District:

Research on options for adjusting regional traffic organization as follows:

- Ung Van Khiem Street: adjust the time and direction of car traffic. Coordinate with the Public Transport Management Center to agree on a plan to adjust bus routes when organizing the plan to remove traffic lights at the Dai Liet Si intersection.

- Create a large roundabout to organize one-way traffic for all types of vehicles in the area of ​​Dinh Bo Linh - Dien Bien Phu - Xo Viet Nghe Tinh - Bach Dang streets.

Ha Mai

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-cong-thuc-giam-ket-xe-cho-tphcm-185230527005154075.htm