Roundabout near Tan Son Nhat airport to be removed

The roundabout at the Pham Van Dong-Le Quang Dinh intersection in Go Vap District would be removed, with the sizes of the median strips adjusted and lighting systems improved, Hoang Quoc Dung, deputy head of the road transport management division under the HCMC Department of Transport, said Thursday.

Dung said the current maximum speed on Pham Van Dong Street is high, at 80 kph for cars and buses, 60 kph for trucks and 50 kph for hybrid lanes.

People have complained that there were no signal lights for people wanting to turn left, and the roundabout means there is less space on the road for maneuvering.

The Road Traffic Infrastructure Management Center is cooperating with other units to relocate infrastructures at the intersection. Previously, certain roundabouts on busy streets in the city were also removed.

The Pham Van Dong Avenue, spanning 12 km with 12 lanes, cost VND340 million ($13,814).

It has been open since 2013 and is one of the most beautiful downtown roads of the southern metropolis.

It is also a vital route connecting the northeastern parts of the city with its downtown areas, running through populated neighborhoods.

Traffic congestion is common on the route.