The newly-built Rach Chiec Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City is seeing few vehicles because of sloppy clean-up works from authorities and contractors.
Rach Chiec Bridge on Ho Chi Minh City’s Eastern Belt Road was inaugurated on January 30. The 540.9m-long bridge cost VND871bn (USD40m) and helps connect to Phu My Bridge, Saigon High-tech Park, Cat Lai Port and the Hanoi Highway.
It is intended to ease pressure on the traffic flow around the city's eastern gate and congestion in the city.
However the route is almost deserted because the authorities have not properly installed traffic signs or removed signs banning vehicles from using the route.
Truong Quoc Khanh, a driver from Dong Nai Province, was surprised knowing that there was a new shorter route to Phu My Bridge. "I didn't see any signposts, only a no entry sign. So who would take that route?" he said.
On Lien Phuong Street, the roads that lead to Rach Chiec Bridge are still covered in dust and gravel. Because the intersection on La Xuan Oai Street lacks traffic lights, there are often accidents, including when a tour bus tried to avoid a motorbike on January 29.
Doan Phu Duc, deputy director of D2 area at Saigon Hi-tech Park promised to upgrade the road and install proper traffic lights on the way to Rach Chiec Bridge.
Rach Chiec Bridge inaugurated in January
The VND871bn bridge is barely used
The route to Rach Chiec Bridge lack traffic signs
Traffic lights are missing at the La Xuan Oai junction
