Traffic jams on Nguyen Thai Son Street, what is the solution to share the load?

Traffic jams every day

Nguyen Thai Son Street (Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City) is one of the main arteries, connecting important traffic from the center to Go Vap District, 12, Thu Duc City...

However, for many years, this route has always been congested and seriously jammed during rush hour. In addition to the heavy traffic, this route also has a system of schools from kindergarten to university, hospitals, churches... so the congestion and traffic jams have become more serious.

Motorbikes, cars, buses... jostle each other during rush hour on Nguyen Thai Son Street. Photo: My Quynh.

According to Giao Thong Newspaper reporters, at around 5:00 p.m. on July 20, thousands of vehicles lined up on the Nguyen Thai Son overpass, extending to the Nguyen Thai Son - Phan Van Tri intersection. Vehicles moved slowly in the rain.

Ms. Ngoc Mai (37 years old, living in District 12) said that every day she goes from District 12 to District 3 to work. Most mornings are congested, traffic jams, slow moving on Nguyen Oanh - Nguyen Kiem street (Go Vap district). In the afternoon, there is a traffic jam from Nguyen Thai Son overpass.

"During rush hour, Nguyen Thai Son Street is crowded with vehicles. Cars, buses, motorbikes... jostle each other, inching forward. The time spent stuck on this stretch of road is at least ten minutes, at most 30 minutes or more, very frustrating," said Ms. Mai.

Vehicles move slowly. Photo: My Quynh.

Mr. Nam (44 years old, a technology car driver) is also fed up: "Traffic jams here have been happening for many years now, I don't know when they will improve. There are only so many roads, but the number of vehicles increases every day, even if I want to go around to another road, I can't," Mr. Nam expressed.

Many parents cut in line to cross the street, making the congestion worse. Photo: My Quynh.

Proposed to be included in the 2026-2030 period

Previously, in 2020, the Management Board of Traffic Construction Investment Projects (Traffic Board) proposed upgrading and expanding Le Lai Street - the planned road connecting Pham Van Dong Street and Nguyen Thai Son Street with a scale of 16m, contributing to sharing the load for Nguyen Thai Son Street, reducing congestion at the intersection of Pham Van Dong - Hong Ha - Nguyen Thai Son - Nguyen Kiem - Hoang Minh Giam.

The Traffic Department assessed that upgrading and expanding Le Lai Street is very necessary and urgent; creating more traffic directions from Pham Van Dong Street to Nguyen Thai Son Street and vice versa, creating favorable conditions for people to travel.

However, this project has not been approved yet.

The existing Le Lai Street has been concreted and has a drainage system along the D400 sewer line. Photo: My Quynh.

Responding to reporters from Giao Thong Newspaper, Mr. Bui Hoa An, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said that the project to expand and upgrade Le Lai Street is not included in the city's medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021-2025. This project is also not on the list of priority investment projects in the period 2020-2030.

In the context of limited budget capital, the medium-term plan for the 2021-2025 period for transport projects must focus on and prioritize capital allocation for key projects, regional linkages such as beltways, expressways, national highways, and main traffic axes...

In Go Vap area, projects are being implemented to upgrade and expand Duong Quang Ham Street, To Ky Street, D3 Street... Therefore, the project to expand and upgrade Le Lai Street cannot be implemented in the period of 2021-2025.

Le Lai Street, viewed from Nguyen Thai Son Street to Pham Van Dong Street and vice versa. Photo: My Quynh.

However, Mr. An said that from now on, the department will work with the People's Committee of Thu Duc City and districts to record, evaluate, and prioritize medium-term public investment projects for the period 2026-2030. Mr. An suggested that the People's Committee of Go Vap District have a say in adding this project to the medium-term phase.

Regarding the traffic situation, Mr. An commented that the section from Nguyen Thai Son overpass intersection to Pham Ngu Lao street is relatively complicated, especially between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

From August 2023, the department has organized one-way traffic for all types of vehicles on Nguyen Thai Son Street (from alley No. 1 Nguyen Thai Son to Pham Ngu Lao Street).

If expanded and connected to Pham Van Dong, Le Lai Street will help reduce traffic congestion on Nguyen Thai Son Street.

Currently, the Department of Transport is studying to adjust the traffic organization of the routes in this area. Specifically, adjusting the organization of one-way traffic from the Nguyen Thai Son overpass intersection to Pham Ngu Lao Street.

Organize two-way traffic for two-wheelers and one-way traffic for cars on Nguyen Kiem Street (from Nguyen Thai Son to Quang Trung).

The Department of Transport will take the lead in collecting opinions from relevant units on the plan to adjust traffic organization in this area in October 2024.

According to the proposal of the Traffic Department in 2020, Le Lai Street will be upgraded and expanded to 16m, including two 10m lanes and 6m sidewalks. The project will complete the green tree, lighting and drainage systems on the route.

The total land area occupied by the project is about 4,960m2, the total site clearance area is about 2,635m2.

Total investment is expected to be about 232 billion VND, sourced from the city budget.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tphcm-ket-xe-trien-mien-duong-nguyen-thai-son-giai-phap-nao-de-chia-tai-192240922090213298.htm