Saigon officials have decided to suspend construction work on an overpass near Tan Son Nhat International Airport, extending traffic woes for residents and commuters near the congestion hotspot.
The construction of the overpass at the Nguyen Thai Son roundabout in Go Vap District, which is intended to reduce traffic near the airport, has been halted due to concerns that it is endangering local residents, VnExpress reports.
City officials were quoted as saying that the project will be delayed for two months.
Deputy Chief Inspector of the Transport Department Nguyen Bat Han explained that the contractor neglected to fence off holes in front of the homes of local residents and hadn’t set up hazard signs.
Upon receiving complaints from nearby locals, Han said: “The company showed disregard for people’s lives. It did a messy job." Han also recognized that the decision to delay construction would prolong traffic woes for commuters but that the department “could not overlook the serious safety violations,” the news source shares.
The new overpass was just one of six projects begun this year aimed at reducing congestion around Tan Son Nhat, as directed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The steel overpass is estimated to cost VND504 billion (USD$22.17 million). A portion of it was opened to traffic in early July, and the rest is now scheduled to be completed between October and December.
