As a vital traffic route in southwest Hanoi connecting with the National Highway 6 that leads to other provinces, Nguyen Trai Street experiences high traffic density and severe congestion during rush hours.
On Monday, three days after a trial began to separate cars and motorbikes on the road, traffic remained chaotic on a main section, the lack of continuous barricades allowing different vehicles to continue intruding into other lanes.
Traffic on section near the Thuong Dinh elevated metro station was no different from a week ago when there was no vehicle segregation.
Traffic police officers have been dispatched to instruct people to stick to designated lanes.
"We will provide suggestions for the Department of Transport to adjust barricades and signs so that traffic congestion can be reduced," a traffic police representative said.
An officer directs a motorbike rider to the correct lane.
Tran Huu Bao, deputy director of the Hanoi transport department, said people have been dispatched continually to instruct drivers on following the correct lanes. After the trial period ends, those who intrude into wrong lanes would be fined, he said.
Some people choose to go against the traffic direction on a less crowded lane to avoid congestion on the other lane 300m away, going towards downtown.
A traffic cop orders a car, which abruptly switched direction as it neared the Nga Tu So overpass, to continue going straight.
At 7 a.m., authorities ordered adjustments to barricades and dividers at the foot of the Nga Tu So overpass.
Since Monday morning, officials have been observed the scene to evaluate the segregation plan and try to identify viable solutions to problems.
"During the trial, we will continue to carry out field research and collect opinions from the people to adjust the barricades and the signs appropriately," said Nguyen Van Hai, a representative of the committee for the repair and maintenance of Hanoi traffic structures.
