Under the master urban plan for its progress by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, Da Nang needs to achieve its target of earmarking about 3-4 % of urban construction land for static traffic facilities, in which, about 120ha for constructing ​​parking lots in downtown areas.

However, the city's land fund for static traffic facilities in such downtown areas as Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts is very modest at less than 1%.

The modern parking garage at 255 Phan Chau Trinh has been put into operation, meeting the needs of local residents. Photo: THANH LAN

Lack of smart parking lots

According to the municipal Department of Transport, over the past time, the city has promoted investment in many concentrated parking lots, with priority given to building smart parking garages according to its approved plan.

An automated parking garage was constructed at 255 Phan Chau Trinh in Hai Chau District at a total cost of over 25 billion VND funded from the city budget, and put into use from September 20, 2019.

Covering a total area of more than 1,000m², the first stage of the steel framed parking garage consists of two 6-storey blocks, together accommodating a total of 50 under 7-seater cars.

An additional space for 74 vehicles will be added in the second stage.

Moreover, work is now progressing on another parking garage at 166 Hai Phong Street, providing parking spaces for 173 4-wheel vehicles in total. This parking site is expected to be put into operation in 2022.

The city’s Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board is preparing for investment procedures for multi-storey smart parking sites south of the ​​Muong Thanh Hotel in Ngu Hanh Son District and at the vacant land at 8 Phan Boi Chau with a total area of ​​4,700m².

Chief of the Office of the Da Nang Traffic Safety Committee Le Van Lam said that since late 2018, the municipal authorities have appealed for investment into a number of smart parking lots in the city, with a total area of ​​23,270m², approximately 1,000 parking positions, in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP). These will be built at 172 Nguyen Chi Thanh, 51A Ly Tu Trong, 10 Ly Thuong Kiet, 9 Le Hong Phong, the A1.1 land lot southeast of the intersection of Pham Van Dong and Ngo Quyen streets, the A1.2 land lot northeast of the intersection of Duong Dinh Nghe and Ngo Quyen streets, land A16 on Vo Van Kiet Street, a land lot southwest of Vo Nguyen Giap - Phan Tu intersection, a land lot west of Vo Nguyen Giap street at the intersection with a concrete road in the south of Ho Xuan Huong Street.

Along with that, 24 investors of commercial and service buildings or apartments have actively developed plans for smart parking garages to increase the efficiency of land use.

However, at present, the construction progress of smart parking garages in the city are still slow compared to the requirements.

A project on building a smart parking garage at 172 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street has yet to be implemented. Photo: THANH LAN

Expediting construction of new parking garages

As observed, serious congestion is recorded during rush hours on many inner streets such as Hung Vuong, Ong Ich Khiem, Tran Phu, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Phan Dinh Phung, Phan Boi Chau, and Truong Sa - Vo Nguyen Giap - Hoang Sa.

Nguyen Van Nhat, a taxi driver in Da Nang, said he found it difficult to drive in the city centre during rush hours because of the crowded traffic. Also, parking is not easy, so many drivers have to park along both sides of roads.

The similar situation is reported along the Hoang Sa - Vo Nguyen Giap route as lines of cars and tourist coaches are seen stopping and parking along coastal restaurants during peak hours due to the lack of parking spaces.

It can be seen that the land fund for the city's static traffic facilities in the downtown districts of Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son is very small, at less than 1% while the number of urban vehicles was over 103,310 as of July 2022.

Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung stressed the need for the city to build multi-storey smart parking garages to make full use of space and reduce pressure on urban land fund in addition to seeking solutions to promote the development of public passenger transport and control the increase of private motor vehicles.

Additionally, he underlined the necessity for the developers of smart parking lots to promptly handle problems arising during the implementation of their projects.

The completion and operation of smart parking garages will partly reduce the rampant parking on roadbed, thereby contributing to easing traffic congestion during peak hours and building the image of Da Nang - a smart city.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG