Illegal parking lots under bridges still exist openly

On September 10, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction issued a document requesting road management units, businesses and People's Committees of wards and communes to urgently review and make a list of all parking lots under bridges, and complete the relocation before October 30 to ensure traffic infrastructure safety.

However, the situation of occupying space under the bridge as a parking lot, trading place and gathering place for goods is still happening, showing that there has not been any clear change in handling it.

Cars parked under Cho Dem bridge (Tan Nhut commune, HCMC). Photo: THIEN PHAT

Parking lot near bridge abutment has many potential risks

According to the Road Center, Dinh Bo Linh Bridge is 21.1m long with one span, 15m wide, with two sidewalks - each side is 1.5m wide. The bridge is constructed with prestressed concrete structure, ensuring technical requirements and load-bearing capacity. The area along both sides of the canal is residential land that has existed for a long time.

Notably, near the bridge abutment, there are two parking lots: Thao Chau parking lot (on the left side of the route, from Nguyen Xi Street to the bridge) and Nam Con Son Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company parking lot (on the left side of the route, from the bridge to Bach Dang Street). The right side of the route is a residential area, with no parking lot business activities. The Road Center confirmed that there is currently no parking situation under Dinh Bo Linh Bridge.

However, according to some bridge and road experts, the existence of parking lots too close to bridge abutments still poses many potential risks. In addition to affecting urban aesthetics, in the event of a fire or explosion, it can directly affect the safety of the construction. Therefore, relevant units need to strengthen management and review the legality of these parking lots, ensure proper operation and absolutely prevent encroachment under the bridge. At the same time, it is necessary to promptly and thoroughly handle any misuse in order to protect the structure of traffic works and preserve urban aesthetics.

Still "inactive"

On September 12, SGGP reporters returned to the underpass of Ong Lon overpass on Nguyen Van Linh Street (towards National Highway 1A, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City). Here, dozens of cars of all kinds were still gathered and parked underneath. Not only for parking, a part of the area under the overpass was also used as a coffee shop and a place for activities. The Binh Hung Commune government was assigned the responsibility of managing this area, but up to now, the illegal parking lot still exists openly, without any definitive measures to handle it.

Parking lot under Him Lam bridge, Binh Hung commune, HCMC. Photo: QUOC HUNG

A similar situation was also recorded under Him Lam Bridge, connecting Binh Hung Commune with Tan Hung Ward. Parking activities under this bridge still continue, despite the prohibition and the risk of unsafety to the structure.

In the area under Kenh Te bridge, the section connecting Vinh Hoi ward and Tan Hung ward, a spontaneous parking lot operates next to Kho Muoi bus station. Dozens of large and small vehicles are parked in the area, from private cars, 16-seat vehicles to many motorbikes. This area is surrounded by a solid corrugated iron fence. At the front, the entrance is blocked by street vendors and vehicles of people living nearby, making the path narrower and the view obscured. The dense gathering of vehicles right under the bridge poses a risk of fire and explosion, while this is an area with high traffic density, often congested during rush hours.

A similar situation occurred at Rach Ong Bridge, Tran Xuan Soan Street, Tan Hung Ward. Right next to Rach Ong Bridge Park, the area under the bridge has been fenced off by a restaurant , used as a parking lot for customers. In addition, the restaurant also set up umbrellas, arranged tables and chairs, and had security guards sit and watch over it. Not only that, another area under the bridge is also surrounded by a B40 iron fence. Inside, many motorbikes are gathered haphazardly with street vendors, tables and chairs, and goods. The messy, unkempt scene spoils the urban beauty and poses a potential risk to fire safety.

At the area under Cho Dem bridge, intersection with Tan Long street, Tan Nhut commune, vehicles are parked haphazardly, causing disorder, and right in this area there is also a solidly built kiosk.

The fact that illegal parking lots and encroachment activities under bridges still exist shows that management in some localities is not drastic and lacks coordination between units. While the Department of Construction has set a deadline for relocation before October 30, many hot spots are still "inactive".

After SGGP Newspaper published the article "Strictly handle the occupation of under-bridge parking lots" on September 6, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction quickly issued a directive (September 10) requesting relevant units to inspect, handle and complete the relocation of under-bridge parking lots before October 30, 2025.

Regarding the newspaper's reflection, the Road Traffic Infrastructure Management Center (Road Center) has conducted an inspection, reviewed the reality and has an official response. The Center noted that SGGP Newspaper has promptly reflected on the encroachment situation under the bridge, including mentioning the area under Dinh Bo Linh Bridge, across Cau Son Canal in Thanh My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

QUOC HUNG - THIEN PHAT

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bai-giu-xe-trai-phep-duoi-gam-cau-van-ngang-nhien-ton-tai-post812797.html