Congestion between Saigon and neighboring provinces has become as clogged as the arteries of the most ardent bột chiên enthusiast.

The People's Committee of Dong Nai Province would like to expand the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway from four to 10 or 12 lanes, they said recently. They cite increased traffic congestion as well as the planned Long Thanh Airport as reasons for the expansion.

Along with National Highway 51, the 55-kilometer-long expressway is one of two major routes connecting Saigon with Dong Nai province and thus facilitating travel to Vung Tau and other areas. When first opened five years ago, the road reduced travel time from Saigon to Dong Nai from 60 to 20 minutes.

However, as more people purchase cars and take to the road, speeds have dropped precipitously below the posted limit of 120 kilometers per hour. Congestion is most severe during rush hour, the end of the weekend and holidays, and worsens as one approaches Saigon. 

The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) reports that usage of the route has increased from 10 million vehicles in 2015 to 16.5 million in 2019. It serves 75,000 vehicles a day but was intended for only 59,000.

In 2017, sections of the route had already been approved for expansion from four lanes to eight in 2020, but work has not yet begun. 

[Photo: The HCMC-Moc Bai Expressway/VOV Traffic]