Residents spend hours crossing Mai Linh Bridge on national highway 6

Commuters from Hanoi's outskirts face significant delays on national highway 6, often waiting one hour or more to cross Mai Linh Bridge, impacting their daily commutes to school and work.

Since 5h45 on 22/9, national highway 6, specifically the section over Mai Linh Bridge connecting Yen Nghia ward and Chuong My, has experienced severe traffic congestion stretching for several kilometers. This bottleneck, exacerbated by ongoing construction narrowing the roadway, has become a major challenge for thousands of vehicles attempting to enter the city center.

The congestion is primarily caused by two factors: the ongoing expansion of Mai Linh Bridge and widespread flooding that has closed alternative routes. Vehicles queue for over 3 km, often moving at a snail's pace or standing still for extended periods. The construction site itself presents hazardous conditions, with the widening road still cluttered with debris, rocks, potholes, and uneven surfaces.

Un u tai loi len cau Mai Linh theo huong vao noi do. Co thoi diem, dong xe gan nhu dung im.

The severe traffic has persisted for nearly one week, following heavy rains from 14-17/9. These downpours caused floodwaters in the Bui, Day, and Tich rivers in Hanoi to exceed level 3 flood alerts, inundating many areas. Consequently, several bridges spanning these rivers, including Dai Thanh Bridge, Bridge 72, and Tan Phu Bridge, have either been submerged or had their traffic flow restricted. This situation has forced all vehicles to reroute and converge onto national highway 6 and Mai Linh Bridge, further overwhelming the already constrained infrastructure.

The daily commute has turned into a test of patience for residents. Do Viet Dung, waiting at a bus stop near Mai Linh Bridge, expressed his frustration after a long wait. "Today I've been waiting for nearly 40 minutes and still no bus. I hope I don't miss school like last time," Dung said, noting that his 7 km journey often takes one hour just to get to school.

Chu Cong Quan from Ha Dong ward, stopped amidst the gridlock on national highway 6, stated that for nearly one week, his daily crossing of Mai Linh Bridge has taken over one hour. "All lanes are packed with cars; I have to weave through small gaps or drive on the unfinished dirt road. It's already past 8h, and I'm only halfway there, so I'll definitely be late for work," Quan explained.

To alleviate the situation, traffic police are collaborating with ward police at both ends of Mai Linh Bridge to direct traffic and regulate vehicle flow. While these efforts have somewhat reduced the congestion compared to previous days, navigating the area remains challenging for commuters.

Tai hai dau cau Mai Linh, canh sat giao thong phoi hop cong an phuong phan luong, dieu tiet phuong tien. Nho do, un tac giam so voi nhung ngay truoc, song viec di chuyen qua khu vuc van gap nhieu kho khan.

National highway 6, a vital radial route spanning 478 km through Hanoi, Phu Tho, Son La, and Dien Bien, currently has two lanes. The section within Hanoi, approximately 7-10 m wide, is known for its rough surface and has been the site of numerous accidents. The ongoing project aims to expand this critical artery to 8-10 lanes, a much-needed upgrade to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.