The new underpass crosses through the Lê Văn Lương - Khuất Duy Tiến - Tố Hữu intersection, which has been one of the traffic hotspots in the city. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — The Lê Văn Lương - Ring Road No 3 underpass was officially opened in Hà Nội on Wednesday morning to alleviate traffic congestion at one of the busiest spots in the capital city. 

Costing VNĐ698 billion (nearly US$30 million) from the city’s budget, the underpass has a total length of 475m and is located at the intersection between Lê Văn Lương - Tố Hữu Street and Khuất Duy Tiến Street (Ring Road No 3). 

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, deputy chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee Dương Đức Tuấn said: “After nearly two years of construction and numerous difficulties, the underpass is now finished while ensuring labour and traffic safety as well as environmental protection.

“This is thanks to the efforts of the investors, construction units, the city’s departments and sectors, and Nam Từ Liêm and Thanh Xuân Districts’ authorities and people.”

Hà Nội officials attend the inauguration ceremony of Lê Văn Lương - Ring Road No 3 underpass. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

To ensure efficiency as the underpass opens, the municipal People’s Committee required that the administrative procedures and payments be made on schedule, according to regulations. 

Hà Nội Department of Transport also worked with city police to study traffic organisation at this intersection and on the streets of Lê Văn Lương, Tố Hữu and Khuất Duy Tiến.

It is hoped the underpass will alleviate the ongoing traffic congestion and pollution problems in the urban area, while also completing the traffic infrastructure of the capital.

Đoàn Tuấn, who lives in the nearby Tools Factory No 1 Residential Area, said that before the underpass opened, motorbikes could only move forward inch by inch during morning and afternoon rush hours. On rainy days, people could barely move in the traffic. 

However, the underpass has already experienced congestion on its first day of operation. 

Attempting to clear the kilometre-long tailback, several vehicles turned around and drove in the opposite direction of their lanes. 

According to the municipal transport department, rush hour traffic hotspots in the city decreased from 67 in 2013 to 32 at present, but congestion is still a problem on several routes at the city gateways and inner areas. 

Traffic at the new Lê Văn Lương - Ring Road No 3 underpass early Wednesday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

Following this underpass in Lê Văn Lương, Hà Nội People’s Committee will start construction work on Kim Đồng - Giải Phóng underpass, which is the only underground section of Ring Road No 2.5. 

After the Kim Đồng underpass and the Lê Trọng Tấn (Thanh Xuân District) - Ring Road No 3 route are finished, the buffer zone for the city’s Southern gateway will take shape in a grid street plan, in a measure to address the current situation of traffic congestion. 

In order to mitigate these issues, Phạm Quốc Tuyến, deputy director of Hà Nội Department of Planning - Architecture, said that his unit will work with the transport department in reporting to the city’s authorities on road construction at important traffic points. 

They will also look into residential planning and revise traffic organisation in Lê Văn Lương area. — VNS