The Hanoi Department of Transportation has proposed to the municipal People’s Committee a pre-feasibility study for the Ring Road 2 project, specifically the section between Nga Tu So and Cau Giay (Duong Lang).
The project, with a total investment of over VND 21 trillion (USD 891.3 million), involves the improvement and expansion of the Ring Road 2 elevated and ground-level sections between Nga Tu So and Cau Giay intersections.
 Duong Lang towards Nga Tu So intersection is often congested during peak hours. Photo: Dinh Hieu
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Due to the significant investment required, the Department of Transportation proposed separating the project into two parts. The first priority is the improvement and expansion of the ground-level Ring Road 2, approximately 3.8 km long, starting at Nga Tu So intersection and ending at Cau Giay intersection. The estimated cost for this section is over VND 17 trillion (USD 720 million), including VND 16.7 trillion for land clearance and VND 541 billion for construction.
The current width of each side of Duong Lang is 10.5 m, but after the improvement, the road will be expanded to 53.5 m in width, with a designed speed of 80 km/h, serving as a major urban artery.
The second part of the project involves the construction of the Ring Road 2 elevated section between Nga Tu So and Cau Giay intersections. This section will be 3.8 km long, 19 m wide, and have a designed speed of 80 km/h, also serving as a major urban road. The estimated investment for this part is nearly VND 3.9 trillion (USD 165.2 million), and the implementation period is expected to be from 2026 to 2030.
The number of vehicles is nearly three times the capacity
According to the Hanoi Department of Transportation, Duong Lang is only 10.5 m wide in each direction, with a maximum capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour. However, the current traffic volume has reached 8,000 vehicles per hour, leading to frequent congestion during peak hours.
The implementation of this project aims to reduce traffic pressure at the Nga Tu So intersection and maximize the efficiency of the completed Ring Road 2 elevated section between Vinh Tuy and Nga Tu So.
In an interview with VietNamNet, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Tam, former Director of the Institute of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Transportation, emphasized the crucial role of the Ring Road 2 project, particularly the section between Nga Tu So and Cau Giay (Duong Lang), for both transportation and socio-economic development in the capital city.
“Hanoi has invested thousands of billions of VND to expand the Ring Road 2 from Vinh Tuy Bridge to Nga Tu So, but the full potential of this investment has not been realized. While it only takes a few minutes to travel from Vinh Tuy Bridge (elevated road) to Nga Tu So, it often takes an hour to get through the congestion at this intersection,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Tam.
 Hanoi is studying the construction of the Ring Road 2 section from Nga Tu So to Cau Giay. Photo: Dinh Hieu
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Therefore, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Tam suggested that Hanoi should promptly implement the project to widen Duong Lang and complete the entire Ring Road 2 section through the inner city. “Only then can we solve the congestion problem at Nga Tu So,” he emphasized.
With numerous overpasses and railway crossings along the existing Ring Road 2, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Tam recommended that Hanoi carefully study and seek expert advice to find the optimal solution when widening Duong Lang and constructing the elevated road.
“Another important consideration for Hanoi is to find a solution that preserves the green space and ensures the aesthetic value of the To Lich River landscape,” added Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Tam.
Regarding the persistent congestion along Duong Lang and at the Nga Tu So intersection, Ms. Bui Thi An, a former National Assembly deputy, urged Hanoi to expedite the implementation of the Ring Road 2 project, specifically the section between Nga Tu So and Cau Giay (Duong Lang).
“The Nga Tu So area already has an overpass, pedestrian tunnel, elevated road, and even a railway, but congestion remains severe. The main reason is that the Duong Lang road has not been widened,” said Ms. Bui Thi An.
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In January 2023, Hanoi inaugurated the elevated road project along Ring Road 2, from Vinh Tuy Bridge to Nga Tu So, with a total investment of nearly VND 10 trillion (USD 423.5 million) for both the elevated and ground-level sections. The road is over 5 km long and 19 m wide. Since the opening of the Ring Road 2 section from Vinh Tuy Bridge to Nga Tu So, traffic congestion along the entire route has been significantly improved. However, the situation at the Nga Tu So intersection with Duong Lang has not shown much improvement, despite various traffic diversion schemes implemented by the transportation sector in 2023. According to the master plan, the entire Hanoi Ring Road 2 will be more than 43 km long, with a road width ranging from 50 to 72.5 m. It will serve as an inner-city road connecting Vinh Tuy – Minh Khai – Nga Tu Vong – Nga Tu So – Lang – Cau Giay – Vo Chi Cong – Truong Sa – Nguyen Van Linh – Vinh Tuy, forming a complete ring road. Currently, 32 km of the Ring Road 2 has been completed, including three major bridges: Nhat Tan, Vinh Tuy, and Dong Tru. |
Quang Phong
