Ho Chi Minh City will introduce new traffic restrictions from Sept. 16 as construction intensifies on major stations along Metro Line 2, affecting several busy roads across the city.

The city's Department of Construction on Sept. 15 issued an official notice adjusting traffic arrangements around Truong Chinh, Tan Ky Tan Quy and Huynh Van Gam streets.

The changes will allow barriers to be installed and construction to proceed at ST9, or Ba Queo station, on Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line 2, which will connect Ben Thanh with Tham Luong. The project is being developed by the Management Authority for Urban Railways.

From Sept. 16, part of Truong Chinh Street around the ST9 station site will be fenced off.

Vehicles will still be able to travel through the construction area, but authorities are recommending two alternative routes for motorists heading from the An Suong intersection toward the city center to help avoid congestion.

The first takes drivers from Truong Chinh onto Che Lan Vien, Nguyen Huu Dat, Le Trong Tan and Tan Ky Tan Quy streets before rejoining Truong Chinh.

The second diverts traffic from Truong Chinh through Ho Dac Di, Huynh Van Gam and Tan Ky Tan Quy streets before returning to Truong Chinh.

Cars will also be prohibited from traveling along Tan Ky Tan Quy Street in the direction from Cong Hoa toward Le Trong Tan.

A similar restriction will apply on Huynh Van Gam Street, where cars will be prohibited from traveling from Tan Ky Tan Quy toward Ho Dac Di.

The Department of Construction had previously approved in principle proposed traffic adjustments for work on two other major Metro Line 2 stations: Tao Dan, designated ST2, and Bay Hien, or ST7.

Tao Dan station

Construction of Tao Dan station will occupy part of the roadway around the clock for 1,219 days across five phases.

At its largest, the construction zone will be 24.6 meters wide and 314.1 meters long. The remaining road space available for traffic will narrow to a minimum of between 7.5 and 10.8 meters depending on the construction phase.

Temporary decking will eventually be removed and the full 14-meter-wide roadway restored during the final stage.

As part of the traffic plan, the section of Cach Mang Thang Tam Street between Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai will become one-way toward Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

Traffic heading in the opposite direction will be diverted along Cach Mang Thang Tam, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Thu Khoa Huan, Le Thanh Ton and Pham Hong Thai streets before returning to Cach Mang Thang Tam.

The section of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street between Cao Thang and Huyen Tran Cong Chua will also become one-way toward Huyen Tran Cong Chua.

Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction will be diverted via Truong Dinh, then Vo Van Tan or Nguyen Dinh Chieu, followed by Cao Thang before returning to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

Suong Nguyet Anh and Bui Thi Xuan streets will meanwhile switch to two-way traffic.

Bay Hien station

Construction of Bay Hien station will occupy road space around the clock for 1,257 days across five phases, affecting both Cach Mang Thang Tam and Truong Chinh streets.

On Cach Mang Thang Tam, the construction zone will reach a maximum width of 22.5 meters and length of 211.5 meters, leaving at least 7.5 to 8 meters available for traffic.

On Truong Chinh, the largest work zone will be 29 meters wide and 201.9 meters long, with between 7.5 and 13 meters of roadway remaining open.

Once temporary decking is removed during the final construction phase, both roads will be restored to their original widths: 14 meters for Truong Chinh and 12.4 meters for Cach Mang Thang Tam.

Traffic through the Bay Hien intersection will also be significantly altered.

Vehicles approaching from Truong Chinh will no longer be allowed to continue straight onto Cach Mang Thang Tam. Instead, drivers will have to turn right onto Ly Thuong Kiet or left onto Hoang Van Thu.

Vehicles on Cach Mang Thang Tam will be required to turn right onto Hoang Van Thu.

The section of Truong Chinh passing the construction site will operate one-way from Xuan Hong toward Cach Mang Thang Tam.

The Department of Construction has urged motorists traveling through station construction areas to slow down, watch for traffic diversion signs well in advance and follow instructions from traffic controllers at the sites.

Tuan Kiet