Transport authorities will try to clear many of the capital’s most congested traffic intersections following the municipal People’s Committee’s approval of 27 billion VND (1.5 million USD) for the task.

The funds will be used by the city’s Transport Department to reroute traffic, repair roads and place traffic officers along 50 of the city’s most congested routes, including the Mai Dong-Linh Nam , Long Bien-Xuan Quan, Nguyen Trai, Cau Dien-Nhon, Nhat Tan-Lac Long Quan, Hoe Thi-Nhon and Dao Tan-Buoi routes.

The department began work on rerouting traffic at the sites in May. According to Nguyen Hoang Linh, deputy director of the department, during the past three months of work, traffic had been eased at 40 congested areas.

The department had asked the committee to provide 60 billion VND (3.4 million USD) for the work to reduce traffic jams, including the rerouting of congested routes and construction of flyover bridges for pedestrians.

However, initial work on rerouting traffic was carried out during the summer holidays when the general level of traffic was lower than usual.

“The rerouting has made a considerable contribution to easing traffic congestion. I have not been stuck for hours in a jam as it used to happen before,” said Nguyen Thi Hien, a resident of Thanh Xuan district.

However, some wonder if the work has really been effective. Cao Huyen Yen, 23, said some of the rerouting has simply shifted traffic jams to other areas.

Last week, traffic jams increased across the city as student began a new school year.