Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in HCM City’s District 1. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City will turn another 22 streets into pedestrian streets on weekends between 2022 and 2025.

The HCM City Department of Transport has sent the City People's Committee a proposal for expansion of the pedestrian street project in the downtown area.

The proposal also includes criteria for the management agency to consider when new pedestrian streets are approved for opening.

This project will be carried out in three phases between 2022 and 2025.

During the first phase from 2022 and 2023, new pedestrian streets will be opened at the International Square roundabout, Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street, Công Xã Paris (from Lê Duẩn Street to Nguyễn Du Srreet), Đồng Khởi Street (from Nguyễn Du Street to Lê Lợi Street), Lê Lợi Street (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Quách Thị Trang roundabout), Phan Chu Trinh Street and Phan Bội Châu Street.

Vehicles will be banned from passing through these streets during specified times.

Priority will be given to walking on Nguyễn An Ninh and Lưu Văn Lang streets. Vehicles will be limited from traveling in and out of these streets.

During the second phase from 2023 and 2024, the city will expand the length of pedestrian streets on weekends on Đồng Khởi Street (from Lê Lợi Street to Tôn Đức Thắng Street), Lê Lợi Street (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Đồng Khởi Street), Lam Sơn Square from Đồng Khởi Street to Hai Bà Trưng Street, Nguyễn Thiệp (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Đồng Khởi Street), Mạc Thị Bưởi Street (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Đồng Khởi Street) and Ngô Đức Kế Street (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Đồng Khởi Street).

Routes such as Đông Du Street (from Đồng Khởi Street to Hai Bà Trưng Street), Mạc Thị Bưởi (Đồng Khởi Street to Hai Bà Trưng Street), Hồ Huấn Nghiệp Street, Ngô Đức Kế Street (from Đồng Khởi Street to Mê Linh Square), Phan Văn Đạt Street, and Tôn Đức Thắng (from Nguyễn Huệ Street to Mê Linh Square) will give priority to walking. Vehicles will be limited from traveling in and out of these streets.

During the last phase between 2024 and 2025, weekend walking streets will include Hàm Nghi Street (from Tôn Đức Thắng to Quách Thị Trang roundabout).

Vehicles will be limited on Tôn Thất Đạm Street (from Hàm Nghi Street to Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street), Thái Văn Lung Street and Thi Sách Street.

Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian street, located in District 1, is the biggest road in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

On a different note, safety, security, attractiveness, level of access, demand, connectivity and community support are among some criterion that management agencies need to consider when carrying out pedestrian street projects.

Expansion of pedestrian streets is also part of the city's long-term goal of reducing the number of cars entering the downtown area, improving the quality of people's living environment, and promoting the development of tourism, commerce and services in the area where multiple historical relics and architectural works are located. — VNS