According to a report by the Hanoi Department of Transport, there were 33 traffic congestion hotspots during peak hours at the beginning of 2024. While 13 of these were addressed throughout the year, 16 new problem areas have emerged, bringing the total to 36.

One of the worst congestion points is the route from Nguyen Trai to Nga Tu So and Truong Chinh, where traffic remains gridlocked at all hours despite significant investments in infrastructure and traffic flow management.

During peak hours, vehicles queue for hundreds of meters at Nga Tu So to access the overpass. The chaotic mix of cars and motorbikes from intersecting roads like Vu Trong Phung and Nguyen Tuan exacerbates the situation.

Another highly congested route is Truong Chinh to Lang, extending from Nga Tu So to Cau Giay. Although elevated Ring Road 2 facilitates faster travel for cars, traffic frequently bottlenecks at the Nga Tu So exit. The Lang Road, still awaiting expansion, struggles with a density of vehicles that far exceeds its capacity.

Causes and efforts to mitigate congestion

The Hanoi Department of Transport attributes the congestion to incomplete transportation infrastructure and the explosive growth of personal vehicles, which is over ten times faster than the rate of infrastructure development.

To address this issue, Hanoi has outlined both long-term and immediate solutions. Long-term measures include promoting public transportation and continuing investment in transportation infrastructure.

As part of immediate actions, the Department of Transport, in collaboration with Hanoi's Police Department, has established five task forces to study and implement solutions for alleviating congestion.

These measures include installing and adjusting traffic lights to optimize flow, identifying high-traffic intersections for improved traffic management, and reorganizing bus stops for efficiency. Additionally, Hanoi has increased penalties for traffic violations and ramped up public awareness campaigns to encourage compliance with traffic laws.

Proposed construction of five steel overpasses

The department has proposed constructing five lightweight steel overpasses to ease congestion and enhance connectivity. These overpasses would be located at the intersections of Chau Van Liem – Le Quang Dao (Nam Tu Liem District), Co Linh – Thach Ban (Long Bien District), Hoang Minh Giam – Nguyen Tuan (Thanh Xuan District), Co Bi – Ngo Xuan Quang (Gia Lam District), and Nguyen Huy Nhuan – Ly Thanh Tong (Gia Lam District).

Among these, the Co Linh – Thach Ban junction experiences particularly high traffic volumes during peak hours, especially after the completion of the Vinh Tuy Bridge Phase 2. The department is trialing new traffic regulations at this site, such as banning left turns from Co Linh Street to Thach Ban Street and redirecting vehicles through alternative routes to reduce congestion.

The remaining locations also face heavy traffic during peak hours. Building lightweight overpasses is considered an effective solution for reducing congestion at these intersections.

Quang Phong