The new route, an extension to the Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout flyover, connects Nguyen Kiem and Hoang Minh Giam Streets.

Unfortunately, the new addition to the flyover was no match for the onslaught of vehicles Thursday morning.

The new branch of the N-shaped overpass measures 367.7 meters long and 13.5 meters wide.  It is the second of three extensions planned to connect the flyover with surrounding streets.

The first route, linking Hoang Minh Giam and Nguyen Thai Son Streets, opened to traffic on July 3.

Construction of the final branch, planned to connect Nguyen Kiem and Nguyen Thai Son Streets, is still in the site clearance phase.

This project was designed to alleviate the frequent congestion near Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The number of vehicles on the overpass route started to increase at 7:00 am.

Traffic jam on the newly-constructed on-ramp occurred mainly during rush hours and was exacerbated when vehicles reached the Hoang Minh Giam- Dang Van Sam intersection after descending the flyover.

The other branch of the flyover remained relatively empty.

The bottleneck lasted for nearly an hour during the morning commute and repeated itself again during the evening rush hour.

Commuters travel at a snail’s pace on the flyover.

According to Pham Ngoc Dung, deputy director of the Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 3 under the municipal Department of Transport, the massive number of commuters hoping to use the new route to reach the city center led to the gridlock.

Officials from the agency will examine the situation at the new overpass in the next two to four days before collecting feedback from local residents and determining a solution, said Dung.

Vehicles descending the bridge waiting at the red light at the intersection of Hoang Minh Giam and Dang Van Sam Streets.

The gridlock is most severe at the exit of the flyover branch.

The situation was brought about by rush hour congestion.

Commuters struggle to travel through the bottleneck.

Fewer vehicles travel under the overpass.

A complete opposite situation at the Nguyen Thai Son Roundabout

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