To alleviate persistent congestion, especially at the gateway to Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City authorities initiated a new reversible lane traffic plan on Cong Hoa street this morning, 15/5. The plan focuses on a 2,5 km stretch from Truong Chinh intersection to Ut Tich, which has been divided into three sections using fixed steel dividers.

Under this new system, four lanes are dedicated to vehicles traveling from An Suong towards central TP HCM and Tan Son Nhat Airport during the morning rush hour. The traffic flow will reverse to accommodate outbound vehicles during the afternoon rush hour. The diversion point for this system begins at the Cong Hoa - Phan Van Suu intersection, near the Truong Chinh roundabout.

The reversible lane plan initially helped reduce congestion during the first morning rush hour. Notably, the Hoang Hoa Tham bridge slope, a common bottleneck on Cong Hoa street, experienced heavy but steadily flowing traffic, avoiding gridlock. This marked a significant improvement, as the area frequently faced severe vehicle congestion during rush hours just two days prior.

At the foot of the Hoang Hoa Tham overpass, temporary dividers were installed to prevent vehicles from making sharp turns, replacing the previous soft dividers. The practice of many vehicles cutting across immediately after descending the bridge slope frequently led to chaotic traffic in this area.

Despite the overall improvements, the reversible lane plan created a new challenge at the intersection with Ut Tich street, heading towards central TP HCM. The conclusion of the reversible lane section here narrows the road, creating a bottleneck that led to approximately one km of congestion.

With many crossing points closed, pedestrians and drivers had to cross the dividers to cross the street.

At 7:30 h, a 7-seater car crashed into a concrete divider on Cong Hoa street, traveling from Tan Son Nhat Airport towards An Suong. The vehicle blocked two lanes, disrupting traffic and causing a 30-minute jam.

The traffic reorganization also presented difficulties for both pedestrians and drivers. At intersections such as Cong Hoa with Ngo Be, Phan Van Suu, Nhat Chi Mai, and Le Tuan Quoc, authorities deployed mobile dividers to prevent illegal turns. With many designated crossing points blocked, pedestrians often had to navigate around the dividers to cross the street. Furthermore, some drivers, unfamiliar with the new layout, were observed driving through gaps in the dividers.

Reversible lane layout on Cong Hoa street. *Graphics: Khanh Hoang*

Quynh Tran - Dinh Van