Authorities take measures to reduce traffic jams during Tet
More toll collection lanes and limited access to expressways during the Tet holiday are expected to reduce traffic congestion on the HCM City – Trung Luong and HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressways.
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Traffic hotspots include the intersection of Ring Road No 2 in District 9; Long Thanh Bridge which links HCM City with Dong Nai Province; Long Phuoc and Dau Giay toll stations and toll station No 51; and the intersection at National Highway No 51 and HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway.
If congestion occurs on Ring Road 2, drivers should go straight to the An Phu intersection, authorities have recommended.
If traffic congestion extends over 500m at Long Phuoc and Dau Giay toll stations, VECE will divert traffic flows to An Phu, Ring Road 2, National Highway No 51 and Dau Giay intersections, avoiding the expressway.
Ngo Ba Thang, director of the Yen Khanh company’s branch office, which manages the HCM City–Trung Luong Expressway, said the volume of traffic on the expressway would increase up to 45,000 vehicles per day during Tet against 35,000 vehicles, mostly cars, on normal days.
He said two additional toll collection lanes that use both cash and pre-paid cards have been opened on the expressway, while more toll booths that collect cash only have opened as well.
If accidents occur, authorities should direct traffic off the expressway and toward National Highway 1, Thang said.
Gridlock
On February 11, tens of thousands of vehicles from HCM City heading to provinces in the Mekong Delta crowded National Highway 1A and many other roads.
Rach Mieu Bridge’s Toll Station saw 17,000 vehicles per day, up more than 3,000 vehicles compared to normal days.
According to the transport sector’s forecast, National Highway 1A will be busy until February 15 (the last day of the lunar year) from HCM City to the Mekong Delta region.
Traffic jams often occur in specific spots such as sections and intersections on National Highway 1A, National Highway No 50, HCM City-Trung Luong Expressway, as well as Rach Mieu and My Thuan bridges and many small bridges.
