In response to the severe shortage of parking lots and public recreational spaces, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed repurposing the areas beneath bridges to develop parking facilities and sports playgrounds.

In a report submitted to the Ministry of Construction and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on the implementation of Directive 157/CD-TTg (issued September 4, 2025, by the Prime Minister) and Directive 06/CT-BXD (dated September 2, 2025, by the Ministry of Construction), the city’s Department of Construction put forward a new proposal to alleviate urgent urban space and traffic challenges.

According to the Department, the demand for parking in Ho Chi Minh City is extremely high, yet available land for parking infrastructure is very limited. Under Decision 568/QD-TTg (2013), the city’s central areas were allocated a total of 550.96 hectares for automobile and taxi parking. However, 193 hectares of this allocation lack clearly defined location and scale - only about 83 hectares are earmarked for commercial and service areas; 110 hectares are planned for parking within residential zones; and 30.98 hectares for taxi parking lots.

The remaining areas are planned along Ring Road 2 at intersections with key arterial roads (including National Highways 1, 13, 22, 1K, 50; Ho Chi Minh City–Chon Thanh Expressway, Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway; and Provincial Roads 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, etc.).

Despite this, only 2.69 hectares of actual parking facilities for cars and taxis have been developed so far - just 0.5% of the original plan. Meanwhile, the city is updating its specialized technical infrastructure planning to reflect newly expanded administrative boundaries following recent district mergers.

The lack of designated parking areas has led to widespread unauthorized use of spaces beneath bridges, resulting in unsightly conditions and potential traffic safety risks - especially under Ong Lon Bridge and Him Lam Bridge.

At the same time, the city is also facing a significant shortage of public spaces and sports facilities, particularly for youth and teenagers.

In light of this reality, the Department of Construction believes that utilizing under-bridge areas for parking and sports would meet urgent urban needs while enhancing traffic safety and city aesthetics.

To address these issues, the Department has recommended that the Ministry of Construction petition the National Assembly and the Government to amend the Road Law and Decree No. 165. The proposed amendments would grant provincial People’s Committees the authority to decide on the use of under-bridge spaces for public purposes, depending on local conditions.

However, any use of this space must not affect the structural safety of bridges, must comply with fire safety regulations, and must not compromise public order or traffic safety.

Tuan Kiet