The Department of Construction announced this solution during an economic-social press conference on the afternoon of 15/10, addressing measures to mitigate traffic jams during the construction of metro line 2, specifically the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong section.

According to the plan, the fixed median strip on Truong Chinh street, a section approximately 1,5 km long from Tay Thanh intersection to Mui Tau Cong Hoa, will be dismantled. It will be replaced with traffic cones and mobile median strips. After this modification, the road surface available for vehicles will be expanded, allowing the city to implement flexible traffic management with reversible lanes during peak hours.

From 6h to 9h, the inbound direction from An Suong to the city center will have 4,5 lanes, while the opposite direction will maintain three lanes. From 16h to 19h30, the outbound direction towards An Suong will increase to four lanes, with the inbound direction to the city center reduced to 3,5 lanes. The exact implementation date has not been announced. Outside these specified times, the traffic police will adjust lane assignments flexibly based on real-time traffic conditions.

The section of Truong Chinh street applying the "reversible lane" system, from Tan Binh station to Pham Van Bach station. Graphics: Tam Thao

According to the Department of Construction, the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro project is accelerating the relocation and restoration of technical infrastructure and expanding barricades for the construction of underground stations. The construction sites occupy a portion of the road surface, placing significant pressure on traffic on Truong Chinh and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets, as well as the Bay Hien intersection area.

Specifically on Truong Chinh street, the section near station S10 (Pham Van Bach) is currently narrowed in the direction from the Northwest gateway to the city center. This narrowing leads to prolonged congestion during peak hours. Maintaining a fixed number of lanes with the old median strip is considered unsuitable given the significant difference in vehicle volume between the two directions at various times. In the morning, traffic concentrates inbound towards the city center, while in the afternoon, it increases outbound towards the suburbs. The reversible lane plan aims to utilize the less-trafficked section of the road to improve traffic flow for the busier direction.

Traffic congestion on Truong Chinh street near Mui Tau Cong Hoa, 9/2026. Photo: Quynh Tran

Earlier, in 5/2026, TP HCM implemented a reversible lane on Cong Hoa street, specifically the section near Mui Tau Cong Hoa - Truong Chinh to Ut Tich. After the central median strip was removed, traffic on this route was flexibly managed, prioritizing the direction with higher vehicle volume during peak hours. This solution leverages existing road space to reduce congestion in the area.

In addition to the above area, other locations such as Bay Hien intersection and Cach Mang Thang Tam street are also experiencing significant traffic pressure due to the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro construction. The TP HCM Department of Construction stated it will continue to coordinate with the City Police and the Management Authority for Urban Railways to adjust traffic diversion plans based on construction progress. Units are required to minimize barricade footprints and restore completed sections to return road space.

Giang Anh