The intersection of Mai Chi Tho and Nguyen Co Thach streets not far from the Sai Gon Tunnel in the former Thu Duc City.
The Urban Traffic Management Center recently announced plans to create a dedicated bicycle lane along Mai Chi Tho Boulevard, covering a 5.8-kilometer stretch from Nguyen Co Thach to D1 streets.
Its director, Doan Van Tan, said the route meets all requirements, adding that there is a growing demand for cycling in urban areas.
Bicycle lanes will be built on the sidewalk on either side of Mai Chi Tho Boulevard at a cost of VND13 billion (US$510,000).
The center is in the process of identifying contractors, with construction expected to start in October and take 90 days.
The existing sidewalks are about four meters wide, paved and densely planted with trees. The bicycle lane will be two meters wide and painted with lane markings for easy identification.
The sidewalks are mostly well maintained with some areas even having flower beds and potted plants. The bicycle lane will be completely separated from the car and motorbike lanes.
Some sections of the sidewalk near the Binh Khanh residential area are paved with granite, "slippery and dangerous when it rains," local resident Le Tien Hau said.
There are a few bridges over culverts with sidewalks only two meters wide. At these spots, the bicycle lane will narrow to 1.5 meters.
Some 200 meters of the sidewalk near the Binh Khanh resettlement area is being excavated to install water pipes.
Besides city bus stops, there is also an intercity bus transfer station on the sidewalk.
Along the route, five public bicycle stations will be set up in densely populated areas such as Sala, New City, Avenue, and near the Mai Chi Tho bus terminal.
After a trial phase, the city hopes to extend the bike lane to Vo Nguyen Giap Street by next year, directly connecting it to An Phu metro station. Nguyen Co Thach Street will then be upgraded to accommodate bicycle lanes running from Mai Chi Tho to the Saigon River Park.
Mai Chi Tho Boulevard is one of HCMC's largest roadways at seven kilometers long with 10–14 lanes. It connects the city center with the eastern gateway, An Phu intersection and the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway.
