Vinh City is striving to remove infrastructure bottlenecks and reduce traffic congestion.

Efforts to reduce traffic congestion

In recent years, in order to improve urban infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion,Vinh CityNumerous solutions have been implemented to upgrade transportation infrastructure and improve key intersections. Specifically, along with continuous campaigns to address the encroachment of sidewalks and roadsides for business purposes, the city has implemented measures to narrow sidewalks on some streets with wide sidewalks to create parking areas; and opened dozens of right-turn intersections at major intersections running along and across the city.

Construction work is underway to renovate the concrete median strip after removing flowerbeds and boulevards to widen Tran Phu Street and, more recently, Phan Dinh Phung Street. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Subsequently, the city proposed to the Department of Road Management II to adjust and expand Tran Phu and Phan Dinh Phung roads, making these routes more accessible and thus serving the transportation needs of residents on these two main streets. In addition, to overcome limitations in provincial traffic planning, the City People's Committee has developed a plan for a network of parking lots down to each ward, commune, and neighborhood, aiming for each area to have a parking lot and gradually encouraging the development of this type of service.

The newly constructed extension of Le Mao Street, with only 1 km completed out of nearly 5 km, has already become a highlight for Vinh City. Upon completion, it will alleviate traffic congestion in the inner city area. (Photo: Nguyen Hai)

However, due to the rapid growth of private transportation, the city is currently facing many difficulties and uncertainties, and there is still no real solution to address the increasingly severe traffic congestion during rush hour.

Traffic police in Vinh City regulate traffic during rush hour every day. (Photo: Nghe An Newspaper)

Focus efforts on removing bottlenecks and obstacles in infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference at the beginning of 2023, Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu, Chairman of the Vinh City People's Committee, frankly stated: "Currently, the city is struggling with this situation. Technical measures or solutions to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours are only short-term solutions. Due to limited investment resources, expanding the planning and investing in new traffic routes in the inner city area is very difficult. The feasible option at this time is for the city, with the support of the province, to focus its efforts on completing key traffic projects and extending some streets that have been planned and implemented for many years but remain unfinished. Specifically, the projects to extend Le Mao Street, Tran Hung Dao Street, and Ly Thuong Kiet Street..."

The planned location for the extension of Tran Hung Dao Street is in the Cua Nam fish pond area, Cua Nam ward, running across the Vinh River and connecting to Ho Huu Nhan Street. Photo: Nguyen Hai

First is the Tran Hung Dao extended road project, connecting the starting point of Cua Nam fish pond to the Vinh bypass road, approximately 5km long. According to a representative of the Cua Nam Ward People's Committee, phase 1 will be constructed in 2023 and 2024, from the starting point of Cua Nam fish pond across the Vinh River to Ho Huu Nhan road. Currently, the site preparation is basically complete and construction can begin in 2023.

If this route is completed soon, traffic from National Highway 46 and Vinh train station to the western part of Vinh market and Pham Hong Thai road to the southern bus station and Vinh bypass will be quite convenient. In addition, to the north, the city will have resolved the bottleneck at the end of Truong Chinh road, crossing Le Ninh road to the 72m Vinh - Hung Dong road. Once completed, large vehicles going to Vinh train station, Vinh market, or to Hung Nguyen will use Le Ninh road, reducing congestion on the Mai Hac De - Le Loi - Quang Trung route.

(Shared by a representative of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward)

The end of Truong Chinh Street, connecting to the 72m Vinh - Hung Dong road via Le Ninh Street, has not yet been cleared, remaining a "bottleneck" that causes traffic congestion whenever trains pass and during rush hour. Photo: Nguyen Hai

The second key transportation project is the extension of Le Mao Street, the section from the former six-way intersection gas station straight to the Vinh bypass. The section from the six-way intersection gas station to the entrance of the Vinh Tan New Urban Area project, constructed under the BT (Build-Transfer) model, has been completed. However, the remaining section from the entrance of the Vinh Tan New Urban Area to the Vinh bypass has been stalled for the past five years due to unresolved land clearance issues and a lack of allocated funds.

Construction of Le Mao Street, extending to the entrance of Handico 30's new urban area in Vinh Tan ward, has been halted due to unresolved land clearance issues and pending funding allocation. (Photo: Nguyen Hai)

According to the Vinh City Land Development Center, the extended Le Mao road is approximately 3 km long and comprises two packages. One package of 384m is funded by public investment, requiring adjustments to the project documents, while the other package will be constructed concurrently with the project.Vinh River upgrading and renovation projectFunded by the World Bank, the project has currently been allocated medium-term capital for the 2023-2024 period, but the biggest obstacle is relocating over 20 affected households in the area.

Construction is underway on a resettlement area in Phong Hoa hamlet, Hung Hoa commune, to provide housing for households displaced by the extension of Nguyen Sy Sach road connecting to the road along the Lam River. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Finally, a vital transportation artery contributing to reducing traffic congestion on Le Loi, Le Hong Phong, and Nguyen Van Cu roads is the extended Ly Thuong Kiet road. This project starts from the current Ly Thuong Kiet road, runs through Hung Binh district, and connects to Nguyen Van Cu road. Mr. Cao Quang Trung, Director of the Provincial Land Development Center – the unit hired to advise on land clearance for this project – stated: "This is a new road, and land clearance involves many organizations and individuals, making implementation very difficult. Currently, the unit is preparing resettlement, compensation, and support documents for 71 households and organizations."

Although acknowledging that many difficulties remain, the city is focusing its resources and determination to accelerate the project's progress. Currently, the Center has submitted compensation, support, and resettlement plans for 8 out of 29 households eligible for resettlement according to regulations; publicly released the draft compensation and resettlement plan for the remaining 21 out of 29 households; and specialized departments have advised the City People's Committee to approve compensation and support plans for 15 out of 42 households not subject to relocation...

(A representative from the Vinh City Land Development Center stated)

Mr. Nguyen The Anh, Deputy Director of the Vinh City Investment and Construction Project Management Board, added: Along with focusing on land clearance for Ly Thuong Kiet road in Hung Binh, the project...Nguyen Sy Sach extended roadThe final stage of land clearance and construction to connect the road from the beginning of Tan Hung hamlet (Hung Loc) to the Lam River embankment road in Hung Hoa has been reached. If the extended Nguyen Sy Sach road is completed and opened to traffic, it will create a focal point and develop a new urban infrastructure for the city.