HÀ NỘI – A proliferation of potholes and the continuing degradation of roads are endangering road users and vehicles in Hà Nội, heightening risks of congestion, accidents and general traffic safety.

Many people living on streets such as Khâm Thiên, Nguyễn Lương Bằng, Tây Sơn, Vọng, Nguyễn An Ninh and Lĩnh Nam or Giải Phóng complain of feeling unsafe on these roads because road users try to avoid potholes and end up causing accidents.

The already high number of traffic accidents is exacerbated by heavy rain, filling up and hiding the numerous potholes.

Travelling on Khâm Thiên or Nguyễn Lương Bằng street, the potholes next to uneven manhole covers in the centre of the roads pose a significant risk to drivers who are constantly trying to avoid them.

Nguyễn Đức Thìn, a resident living on Nguyễn Lương Bằng Street said that most potholes here appeared as a result of construction work and the carelessness of units maintaining the roads.

The road on Định Công Street stretching to the new urban area of Đại Kim Street in Hoàng Mai District is also in the same situation.

Traffic users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of the road and the failure to repair it. Some residents have taken matters into their own hands, filling deep holes with rubble to limit the occurrence of accidents.

Nguyễn Chi Mai, the owner of a grocery store on Định Công Street complained that the road was always muddy after rainfall, becoming dusty in warmer weather. The poor conditions lead road users to use masks to avoid the dust.

Tam Trinh and Lĩnh Nam roads have also threatened the traffic travelers.

The high density of daily road use, especially heavy trucks, had contributed to the rapid deterioration of the road, Nguyễn Hoàng, a resident living on Tam Trinh Road, said.

“Residents here have repeatedly reported the situation to the authorities but the maintenance is very slow," Hoàng said.

Tam Trinh and Lĩnh Nam roads have been on the city’s list of projects to upgrade and enlarge to 40-50 metres for many years, but the improvements remain on paper.

Vũ Ngọc Thắng, deputy head of the Urban Transport Office under the Hà Nội Transport Department, said there were six units responsible for the regular maintenance of roads in the districts.

Every month, the units inspect and create plans to repair any roads which are reported as being degraded.

He said the office would instruct units to repair degraded road immediately after the residents’ report. -- VNS