Flyovers to ease traffic congestion in Da Nang

The Ministry of Transport has approved a VND2,000 billion (US$97 million) project to build crossroads and two flyovers at the gateway to central Da Nang city.

The crossroads and flyovers will remove congestion in what is a main transport node in the central region involving National Highway 1A, the north-south railway and main roads of the city.

It is an area of high-density traffic which experiences major traffic jams at peak periods, especially when the train is running.

The project has been designed with three levels: the lower or ground level includes roads not crossing the railway, the second level is a flyover with four lanes, the third level is a 17m-wide flyover, 607m-long flyover.

Da Nang City’s Transport Department is responsible for implementing the project with funding from the State budget. It is expected to be completed in 2015.

Singapore aid

Da Nang announced its plan to enhance State officials’ capabilities in preparing an urban transport system with the support of Temasek Foundation from Singapore at a signing ceremony yesterday.

The programme was given a grant of more than SGD$915,000 (approximately US$760,000) by Temasek Foundation with the City of Da Nang co-funding about VND4 billion ($186,000) with extracted money from a World Bank sponsored infrastructure investment fund.

Under the one-year programme, Temasek Foundation, along with the Singapore Co-operation Enterprise (SCE), will share Singapore’s experience in transportation planning with Da Nang.

In particular, the programme aims to provide advice for capacity building. The programme will assist the city in understanding the benefits of and challenges facing sustainable urban transport development and hopes to optimise transport efficiency. It will also build leadership skills and capacities for government officials in transportation planning and management functions.

Six training courses will thus be organised for the city’s transportation officials, and the first course will begin right after the signing ceremony.

The programme is to be implemented from September to the end of June, 2012. — VNS