Traffic congestion on Nguyen Trai Street (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Despite numerous attempts by the Hanoi authorities to easetraffic congestion in the capital, roads still remain crowded.
The Department of Transport say since 2016, traffic congestion at 59 hotspotshas been eased, but a further 48 problem areas have come to light.
These hotspots, the department said, are caused mainly by the rapid increase ofhigh-rise buildings and apartments blocks in Hanoi’s downtown area, along withpoor infrastructure.
Despite being expanded, the Beltway No 3, between Thanh Tri Bridge and Cau Giaydistrict’s Mai Dich commune is still clogged as too many apartment buildingshave been built along the route.
Thang Long avenue and Vo Chi Cong street are predicted to face the same problemdue to mass housing projects in these areas.
Xuan Thuy street in Cau Giay district has been a traffic jam hotspot for a longtime, especially the area from Lane 130 Xuan Thuy extending to the crossroadsof the overpass.
At Pham Hung street area, especially at the intersection of My Dinh BusStation, congestion also happens frequently. In addition to the personalvehicles, a large number of buses pass through the area causes difficulties totraffic flow.
Le Van Luong street used to have three lanes, but since last year, when one hasbecome a designated bus lane, traffic jams are a common sight.
In 2019, 33 traffic hotspots were reported in Hanoi, including eight new oneson Dinh Cong bypass, Chua Lang street and Phung Chi Kien street. The city’straffic safety committee has undertaken several solutions to ease and eliminatejams, such as installing warning signs, speed bumps and adjusting trafficlights.
But with high density of vehicles and violations of traffic rules, congestionis still an urgent matter that needs drastic measures to tackle, said NguyenDuc Toan, deputy head of the Traffic Infrastructure Management Unit under the HanoiDepartment of Transport.
The Hanoi Department of Transport is carrying out several solutions to easejams, some of which have been successful.
These include regular review of traffic congestion hotspots and potentialhotspots to adjust traffic management accordingly and developing high qualitypublic transportation.
The other measure is to enhance the application of information technology inmanagement, ensuring traffic safety and order, such as fining motorists whobreak traffic laws using traffic safety surveillance camera systems.
The department has applied the GovOne software in management and maintenance oftransport infrastructure and deployed the Iparking application at publictransport parking spots in the city.
In addition to installing equipment, Hanoi has expanded roadlanes through cutting median strips.
Thecity’s bus network is developing in both quality and number. As of November2019, Hanoi raised the number of routes to 127. The coverage of the bus routenetwork has expanded to 30/30 districts, 457/584 communes (accounting for 78.3percent, an increase of 4.3 percent year-on-year).
The municipal Department of Transport said it will gradually implement thescheme to curb motorcycles while improving the infrastructure and servicecapacity of the public transport system.
It will promote a plan of expanding public transport network inthe city, build a database on road infrastructure and means of transport,install camera systems and develop an online digital map for traffic managementin urban areas.
Vu Van Vien, head of the city’s Transport Department, saidall solutions for the immediate and long-term period are being graduallyimplemented by all levels and sectors of the city in order to solve the trafficproblem./.
VNA
