Hanoi residents cry foul as street expansion drags on, stirring dust, disruption ahead of Tet

The project to upgrade and widen Nguyen Tuan Street, located in Thanh Xuan Ward, Hanoi, began in late 2024.

Initially, news of the investment sparked optimism among locals, who had endured years of traffic congestion along the narrow 6-7 meter-wide street.

Despite spanning only about 720 meters, the project was considered vital, given the high density of apartment buildings, schools and commercial establishments lining both sides of the street.

However, that optimism quickly faded as construction stalled and the site descended into disorder.

Progress has been slow, while the construction area is cluttered.

Instead of easing traffic, the works have exacerbated congestion, turning daily travel into a persistent ordeal for residents and commuters.

As observed by a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter on Tuesday, construction materials piled directly in the middle of the roadway, severely restricting traffic flow.

Excavated soil and mud were dumped along both sides of the street, and when mixed with water, spilled onto the road surface.

Vehicles passing through crushed the mud into fine dust, sending clouds of dirt into the air and causing serious pollution.

Many commuters were seen covering their faces to avoid inhaling dust and unpleasant odors.

The timing of the construction has further inflamed public anger.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, a peak season for retail and services, the excavation of sidewalks for underground works has hit local businesses hard.

Tu, who runs a banh mi shop on Nguyen Tuan Street, said she has to clean dust from her shop up to three times each morning.

To meet food safety standards, she now covers her products with cloth to prevent contamination.

“The project started at the end of 2024. It’s only a 700-meter stretch, but it feels like it will never be finished,” she said.

“Now, right before Tet, they’ve dug up the entire sidewalk, making business extremely difficult,” she bemoaned.

Linh, an employee at a hair salon on the street, fears the shop may not make a profit during this period.

Traditionally, the weeks before the Lunar New Year holiday are the busiest period, but this year, customers have dwindled sharply as the sidewalk in front of the salon has been dug up for more than half a month.

Completion slated for March

Addressing concerns over the delayed progress, an official of the Thanh Xuan Ward People’s Committee said the project remains stalled due to unresolved site clearance issues at a two-storey apartment building at 35A Nguyen Tuan Street.

The site involves six households that have yet to hand over the land needed for construction.

Compensation prices have been approved and publicly posted, and the ward is continuing consultations and dialogue.

If consensus cannot be reached, authorities will proceed with further legal steps, including compulsory land recovery, in accordance with regulations.

The Nguyen Tuan Street expansion project carried a price tag of nearly VND400 billion (US$15.4 million).

Once completed, the road will be 21 meters in width, including sidewalks three meters wide on each side.

The project is now expected to be completed in March 2026, a year later than the original target of 2025.