During the morning rush hour in early September, a line of vehicles stretched for over 2 km from National Highway 13 towards Binh Trieu 2 Bridge. Cars inched forward while motorbikes squeezed through any available space as people commuted to work and school.

A similar scene unfolded on Pham Van Dong Street, another major route leading to Binh Trieu 2 Bridge, where commuters faced lengthy delays. On some days, the gridlock was so severe that office workers resorted to taking photos as proof of the delays for their employers. Children being transported to school by their parents appeared weary amidst the fumes and incessant honking.

Traffic jams extend from Binh Trieu Bridge into the morning as people from District 7 head into the city center, and reverse in the afternoon during the evening commute. Photo: Dinh Van

Route map of the two Binh Trieu Bridges. Graphics: Khanh Hoang

Since the closure of Binh Trieu 1 Bridge to cars for repairs on 26/8, National Highway 13 and Pham Van Dong Street – two major arteries into the eastern gateway leading to Hang Xanh and the city center – have experienced persistent congestion.

Hoang Bao, who commutes from his home near Binh Phuoc Overpass to District 1, reported that his drive to work has recently doubled in duration. Each morning, he travels from National Highway 13, crossing Binh Trieu Bridge to Dinh Bo Linh Street (formerly in Binh Thanh District) or turning right onto Binh Loi Bridge to reach Nguyen Xi Street and then the city center.

His evening commute takes him through Hang Xanh Roundabout, along Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, and over Binh Trieu 2 Bridge to return home. However, since late August, both routes have been congested day and night.

According to Bao, driving in heavy traffic is particularly challenging due to motorcyclists weaving through gaps and making sudden lane changes, requiring constant vigilance to avoid collisions and occasional arguments. "Both routes involving Binh Trieu Bridge are congested, so I have to accept it. Taking a detour via Hanoi Highway would be too far," Bao said.

Traffic jam on Pham Van Dong Street near Binh Trieu Bridge. Photo: Dinh Van

Binh Trieu 1 and 2 are two parallel bridges spanning the Saigon River. They connect the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City with the Martyrs' Memorial intersection, providing access to Hang Xanh via Xo Viet Nghe Tinh and Dinh Bo Linh streets.

They also link to Tan Cang Station on Metro Line 1 and the city center via Ung Van Khiem Street. The distance from Binh Trieu Bridge to Hang Xanh Roundabout or Tan Cang Station is approximately 2 km. However, the connecting roads are narrow, while the area is densely populated with universities, apartment buildings, and commercial centers, resulting in high traffic demand.

Furthermore, the section from Hang Xanh intersection, including Xo Viet Nghe Tinh and Dinh Bo Linh streets, is already a notorious congestion hotspot. Recent traffic restrictions in this area have exacerbated the situation around Binh Trieu Bridge.

"The road from Hang Xanh to Binh Trieu Bridge is narrow and has long been plagued by chronic traffic jams. The current repairs, coinciding with the start of the school year, have made my commute with my child even more time-consuming and tiring," said Thanh Nga. She suggested that carrying out bridge repairs during summer or after the Tet holiday, when students are not yet back in school, would lessen traffic volume and mitigate congestion.

Cars and motorbikes packed on the road leading up to Binh Trieu 2 Bridge. Photo: Dinh Van

A representative from the Hang Xanh Traffic Police stated that after the closure of Binh Trieu 1 Bridge to cars, authorities designated a lane on Binh Trieu 2 Bridge for car traffic and installed dividers on the bridge approach to manage traffic flow. This has created a bottleneck at the entrance to Binh Trieu 2 Bridge, hindering traffic flow from National Highway 13 towards the city center.

During the evening rush hour, the area in front of the Martyrs' Memorial experiences heavy traffic, compounded by sleeper buses departing from the former Eastern Bus Station, adding to commuters' travel time.

To alleviate congestion during the Binh Trieu Bridge repairs, traffic police have implemented several measures, including deploying officers at the underpass of Binh Loi Bridge to redirect traffic from Pham Van Dong Street towards Nguyen Xi Street instead of Binh Trieu Bridge. This, along with adjusting traffic signal timings at the Pham Van Dong - Nguyen Xi intersection and promptly addressing traffic incidents, aims to improve traffic flow.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department has released videos on TikTok and Facebook outlining alternative routes for commuters. "Drivers passing through this area should maintain a safe distance, avoid collisions, and follow traffic regulations to prevent further congestion," the Hang Xanh Traffic Police representative advised.

The Road Traffic Infrastructure Management Center, responsible for the construction, has scheduled some tasks related to increasing the clearance under Binh Trieu 1 Bridge for nighttime or off-peak hours to minimize traffic disruption. The center has also established a Zalo group to facilitate communication, coordinate traffic management, and promptly address accidents and congestion. They are also expediting construction to ensure completion within three months.

Dinh Van