ĐÀ NẴNG — Delay in the construction of a tunnel at the Điện Biên Phủ-Nguyễn Tri Phương intersection in the central Đà Nẵng City has worsened the traffic situation in the area during rush hour.

The construction, aimed at reducing traffic jams from Đà Nẵng International Airport to the central city, and another part serving the APEC Summit in November began in December 2016 and was expected to be completed late last month, but, so far, the construction site was still a mess.

“The delay in construction had badly impacted our lives,” a local living near the construction site said.

“During rush hour in the morning and evening, vehicles are forced to come to a standstill on the road for hours,” he said.

The area is very dusty on sunny days, while on rainy days, huge puddles of water are everywhere, a woman, who has a small shop on Điện Biên Phủ Street, said. The construction had resulted in difficulties for her business.

So far, roads and other infrastructure that are part of the tunnel project are still being undertaken.

Explaining the construction delay, Lê Thành Vinh, a commander at the construction site, said as per the initial schedule, the construction had to be completed by December this year.

However, the Đà Nẵng People’s Committee then asked investors to accelerate the progress to complete it by September to serve the APEC Summit, Vinh said.

However, due to the cramped and crowded area around the construction site, the investors pleaded for permission to complete construction by late October, which was accepted by the People’s Committee.

The Điện Biên Phủ-Nguyễn Tri Phương Tunnel Construction project received VNĐ118 billion (US$51.2 million) invested by Thuận An Construction Company and Thăng Long Corporation.

The total length of the tunnel is 432m. It is the city’s second tunnel. — VNS