HCMC – The overloaded traffic situation on many city roads is now at level five or six, the highest alert on the warning scale, according to the HCMC Department of Transport.
With 4,734 kilometers of roadways and 1,160 bridges, land used for traffic in the city is 10% lower than necessary, while the density of roads has reached only one-fifth of the requirement.
HCMC had 8.7 million vehicles as of the third quarter of 2022, including more than 850,000 automobiles and over 7.8 million motorcycles.
The city’s population, which topped nine million by 2021, has grown by approximately two million in the last 10 years, causing severe challenges in terms of transportation infrastructure.
Over 1,000 new vehicles, including about 220 automobiles and 805 motorbikes, are registered daily.
The overall number of vehicles climbed by 3.1% compared to the same period last year, with autos growing faster than motorbikes, according to the authorities.
HCMC reportedly has 18 hotspots that are at risk of traffic congestion. The flow of vehicles might be potentially disrupted due to break-down autos or heavy rainfalls.
The city has proposed three solutions to ease traffic congestion by the end of September, including the construction of 16 intersections, the hourly restriction of passenger vehicles with 30 seats or more from entering the city center, and the toll collection for automobiles traveling downtown.
HCMC has also promoted beltway projects Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to divert automotive traffic away from roads in the city center.
In 2023, the authorities will focus on increasing transit infrastructure, improving public passenger transportation service and regulating the use of personal vehicles.
