A seminar recently took place in Da Nang in a bid to collect constructive opinions from domestic experts about options for re-arranging the traffic network at the western ends of the Rong (Dragon) and Tran Thi Ly bridges. These are currently amongst the city’s most notorious traffic gridlock hotspot.

An artist's impression of the traffic re-arrangement at western end of the Dragon Bridge

According to the municipal Department of Transport, the city authorities are mulling over 3 options for the traffic rearrangement at the western end of the Rong Bridge.

The traffic re-arrangement aims to ease traffic congestion at the intersection of the Nguyen Van Linh, Tran Phu and 2 September streets during peak hours, and to satisfy the city’s future traffic development strategies.

Notably, many experts voiced their great support for the construction of 2 separate one-way traffic tunnels, measuring 120m in length each, will be built at a total cost of about 350 billion VND, with one allowing vehicles to travel the extended Bach Dang towards 2 September whilst the other for traffic heading from Tran Phu towards 2 September.

These experts remarked the effectiveness of the 2 tunnels in reducing traffic congestion at this venue during peak hours.

Associate Professor Phan Cao Tho, the Rector of the city’s University of Technology and Education, underlined the need to develop plans to re-arrange the traffic flow along nearby streets leading to the 2 tunnels to ease the heavy traffic there.

Fully concurring with the above expert, Mr Dang Hoang Hiep from the Transport Engineering Design Inc (TEDI) said his unit will make proposals for reducing the total length of the tunnels in a bid  to relieve the construction costs.

Representatives from the Department of Transport said importance is being attached to making sure the traffic rearrangement at the western ends of the Rong Bridge will not adversely affect the surrounding urban landscapes, especially around the Museum of Cham Sculptures and the bridge itself.

As for plans for re-arranging the traffic network at the western end of the Tran Thi Ly Bridge, a consultancy agency has already developed a plan to build an overpass at this venue in an attempt to reduce congestion there during peak hours.

An architectural model about the traffic re-arrangement at western end of the Tran Thi Ly Bridge

Under the plan, the overpass will consist of 3 levels.

In detail, the lowest level will be a 750m-long road tunnel taking Duy Tan under the busy junctions with Nui Thanh and extended Bach Dang streets.

The upper level on ground will be a roundabout, whilst the highest level will be a 203m-long steel overpass over 2 September Street.   

In order to implement the project, there is no need to carry out site clearance, and some sections of street pavements will be used for deploying this plan. 

The total cost of the full project is estimated at 520 billion VND.

In their opinions, many experts at the seminar remarked this plan is the most reasonable solution.

However, they also noted the need to divide the whole project into different stages.  

Mr Bui Hong Trung, the Deputy Director of the Department of Transport said one of the most noticeable advantages of this option is to ensure the smooth traffic movement from the Da Nang International Airport to the city’s eastern coastal area. 

In addition, this solution also helps to create links to riverside streets from the Tran Thi Ly and Tuyen Son bridges in the years ahead, and meet the increasing travel demand in the next 10 – 15 years.

However, it might cost a lot of money to develop this project.