The consensus and cooperation of the people are needed.

(Baonghean.vn) - Recently, Baonghean.vn received a petition from several households in Le Mao ward (Vinh City) complaining that the implementation of one-way traffic flow on Dinh Cong Trang and Ngu Hai streets is affecting the business activities and lives of the people...

From the proposal

The petition stated, "The regulation designating two one-way streets (Dinh Cong Trang Street and Ngu Hai Street) has directly disrupted the socio-economic situation in our residential area, seriously affecting the business activities of households on these two streets in particular, and all streets and alleys intersecting with residential areas in general, while also creating localized traffic congestion on the streets and alleys intersecting these two streets."

Dinh Cong Trang Street was frequently congested before being rerouted as a one-way street.

"Apart from peak hours for transporting students from Monday to Friday, between 6-7 am and 5-6 pm daily, all other hours and days of the week on these two routes are currently deserted, with no customers passing by. Businesses are stalled, incomes are reduced, goods are stagnant, investments in business facilities are burdened with bank debts, and people's lives have been disrupted..."

The people also requested that the authorities at all levels "inspect, survey, and accurately assess the current situation in order to come up with appropriate and reasonable solutions that will both alleviate traffic congestion during peak hours and create favorable conditions for the long-term lives of the people."

Let's get to reality.

It was found that, before the implementation of one-way traffic flow, severe traffic congestion frequently occurred on Dinh Cong Trang and Ngu Hai streets during early mornings and rush hours, especially at the gates of the three schools (kindergarten, primary school, and Le Mao secondary school), causing chaos and disorder due to narrow roads and high traffic density. Although the Vinh City People's Committee and relevant authorities had implemented many solutions to combat congestion, they were ineffective.

The implementation of one-way traffic flow has reduced congestion in front of the three schools on Dinh Cong Trang Street.

In light of this situation, based on Document No. 454/UBND-GT of the Provincial People's Committee regarding the pilot implementation of one-way traffic flow on Dinh Cong Trang and Ngu Hai roads, on January 22, 2016, the Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee issued Notice No. 329 on the pilot traffic flow implementation. Accordingly, for Dinh Cong Trang road: All types of vehicles are prohibited from traveling in the direction from Quang Trung road to the traffic island at the five-way intersection near the Provincial Post Office. For Ngu Hai road, all types of vehicles are prohibited from traveling in the direction from Le Mao road to Quang Trung road, effective from January 25, 2016.

Some cross roads between Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang, such as Dang Tat Street, experience localized traffic congestion during peak hours, partly due to vehicles belonging to customers and food businesses parking illegally on the road and sidewalks.

Nguyen Bieu Street (opposite Le Mao Secondary School) often experiences traffic congestion during rush hour because some parents picking up their children prefer to take the shorter route instead of the other alternative paths.

Mr. Nguyen Tam Ky, Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Mao Ward, said: The policy of one-way traffic flow has been supported and implemented quite seriously by the government and people in the area. In reality, the pilot program of one-way traffic on Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang streets has made the streets more open and has fundamentally resolved the localized traffic congestion on these two streets.

Initially, the ban on driving against the flow of traffic also affected the businesses of some households to some extent (in Le Mao ward, there are 360 ​​small and medium-sized production and business households, of which 150 households have businesses located along Dinh Cong Trang and Ngu Hai streets).

In addition, during peak hours, traffic converges on 5 cross roads (Nguyen Bieu, Dang Tat, Ho Sy Dong, Mac Dinh Chi, Hong Bang), most of which are narrow and in poor condition, leading to collisions and localized traffic congestion.

However, Mr. Ky also stated that "road traffic management is an inevitable trend in urban development towards a civilized and modern direction as people and traffic volume increase. It's just that in Nghe An, people are not yet used to it or have not adapted to it. Once they get used to it, everything will fall into order..."

Nguyen Van Anh Long, owner of coffee shop number 49 (Dinh Cong Trang Street), believes that implementing a one-way street has negatively impacted the businesses of local residents and therefore proposes that the ban only be implemented during peak hours or for cars.

From the perspective of the residents, some businesses along Dinh Cong Trang and Ngu Hai streets believe that car bans or restrictions on driving against the flow of traffic should only be implemented during peak hours (early morning and rush hour). “Since the one-way street was implemented, our shop has seen a significant drop in customers, revenue has halved, while we still have to pay rent and taxes. In reality, traffic congestion only occurs during peak hours and mainly in front of the three schools. Therefore, the road closure should only be implemented from 6-7 am and from 4-5 pm,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Long, owner of coffee shop number 49 on Dinh Cong Trang street.

There are also households with positive thoughts focused on the common good of the entire community, such as Mr. Tran Ngoc Hung (Hung Dong Furniture) at 30 Ngu Hai Street. Mr. Hung said: "I have been in the furniture business for decades. Honestly, the ban on going against the traffic direction has affected my family's business, but since it is a government policy for the community and in line with the inevitable development of society, we have to overcome the difficulties."

Traffic diversion is the optimal solution.

On the government side, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang - Head of the Urban Management Department (Vinh City) said: The pilot implementation of one-way streets on Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang routes is not simply to solve traffic congestion during peak hours at the gates of the three schools, but also to serve the general transportation needs of the people as the volume of people and vehicles increases while the road structure is narrow.

The encroachment of sidewalks for business purposes is one of the causes of the chaotic situation on Dinh Cong Trang Street.

Before implementation, the authorities and relevant agencies conducted surveys and selected solutions and plans for the one-way street project, which had been proposed since 2011. Firstly, these two roads are key arteries connecting the city center to the outskirts, with high traffic volume and demand. Secondly, these roads frequently experience sidewalk encroachment, illegal business activities, and vehicles stopping, turning, and making U-turns in violation of traffic rules, causing congestion despite the presence of prohibition signs. Thirdly, numerous connecting roads between these routes ensure smooth traffic flow for residents.

In reality, traffic congestion in Vinh City occurs not only on Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang streets but also on many other streets, especially at intersections. Over the past period, Vinh City has implemented many solutions to reduce traffic congestion, such as painting road markings, building railway overpasses, constructing traffic islands, and most recently, opening nine right-turn lanes at intersections including the intersections of Nguyen Du - Nguyen Van Troi; Nguyen Phong Sac - Nguyen Du; Le Nin - Nguyen Sy Sach; Nghe An - Xieng Khouang with Le Nin; Phan Boi Chau - Le Loi; Nguyen Van Cu - Le Hong Phong; Le Hong Phong - Le Loi; the five-way intersection at Hai Quan Island; and Nguyen Sy Sach - Ha Huy Tap - Nguyen Van Cu.

The implementation process affected many households and businesses, and many underground infrastructure, fiber optic cables, and Viettel services had to be relocated... for the common good. And the pilot implementation of one-way streets on Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang routes is no exception.

Regarding the public's suggestion to only implement road closures during peak hours (early morning and rush hour), Major Nguyen Duy Ha, Head of the Traffic Police Team (Vinh City Police), stated that this is highly impractical. In reality, after nearly three months of implementation, along with intensified public awareness campaigns in various forms during the first month, and the persistent efforts of traffic police, the public order team (Vinh City Police), and Le Mao Ward Police in manning checkpoints, providing guidance, reminders, and issuing fines, compliance among the public has only just begun to become more consistent.

Consensus and sharing are needed.

It's important to recognize that the concept of "one-way streets" is still relatively new in Vinh, whereas in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, the implementation of one-way streets or pedestrian zones has been in place for a long time. This is an inevitable trend in urban areas where infrastructure cannot keep pace with the rate of development.

Dinh Cong Trang Street has become less congested after the implementation of a one-way street pilot program.

Currently, Vinh City is striving to build a civilized and modern urban area, so it naturally needs to consider fundamental and sustainable solutions for urban beautification, congestion control, and accident reduction. Therefore, the people of the city in general, and the residents of Ngu Hai and Dinh Cong Trang streets in particular, need to share and cooperate with the Party committee and the government for the common development of the city, with the goal of becoming a regional economic and social center of the North Central region.

Ultimately, the first beneficiaries are the citizens themselves. Besides that, the authorities and relevant agencies also need to consider the immediate difficulties, especially for businesses located along both sides of the road, such as providing partial tax reductions during the initial phase of implementing one-way traffic flow, and finding solutions to alleviate localized traffic congestion during peak hours at the intersections... to ensure the business operations and livelihoods of the people.

Gia Huy