The Hanoi Times - Four solutions to reduce the incidence of traffic jams, including widening roads, rerouting traffic and building overpass streets, will be implemented by the Hanoi Transport Department this year.
Thach Nhu Sy, chief inspector of the department, identified the lack of area for traffic as the biggest single cause of serious traffic jams.
To address the problem, the department plans to widen the curbs on streets such as Nghi Tam, Yen Phu and Cau Dien to allow for higher traffic flow.
The department would also continue to reroute traffic at T-junctions by using removable separation bands that allow vehicles to turn back according to fixed directions. Separation bands are already planned for the T-junctions of Tran Duy Hung-Nguyen Chi Thanh, Nguyen Trai-Tran Phu, Kim Ma-Cau Giay, Tay Son and Giai Phong-Le Thanh Nghi.
Under the plan, more staff would be mobilised to control traffic and conduct inspections during rush hours.
Traffic light timings would also be optimised at specific intersections to allow for greater traffic throughput. Hue- Dai Co Viet-Bach Mai-Tran Khat Chan, and O Cho Dua-Ton Duc Thang-Nguyen Luong Bang streets have so far been marked for changes.
Another proposal under consideration by the department was the separation of two-wheel and four-wheel traffic on busy roads. Relocation of bus stations and routes and an increase in one-way traffic streets were also planned.
Changes to traffic routes were based on the success of similar changes last year.
Hanoi's People's Committee has approved more overpasses and bridges to be built above existing streets so as to minimise traffic jams and serve a higher volume of transportation.
La Thi Kim Ngan from the Construction Planning Institute said building overpasses would affect space allocation so it would need to be done carefully.
Architect Tran Trong Hanh and former director of the University of Architecture, said the level of infrastructure and public space was currently not sufficient for the number of vehicles using city roads.
With little space for outward expansion, underground and vertical spaces would need to be utilised to meet traffic requirements.