On September 21, Mr. To Ngoc Lien - Chairman of Sa Pa Ward People's Committee - informed that the locality is proposing plans to build a bypass, overpass or tunnel to handle traffic congestion.
According to Mr. Lien, in recent years, the number of tourists to Sa Pa has increased rapidly, while the transport infrastructure has not kept up with the development speed. The biggest bottleneck of Sa Pa tourist area at present is the problem of solving traffic congestion in the central area.
According to statistics, in 2010, Sa Pa only welcomed about 450,000 visitors, but by 2024, this number had increased to nearly 5 million.
This year's National Day holiday on September 2 alone, Sa Pa leads Lao Cai with more than 100,000 visits, including 6,930 international visitors.
According to records, during peak holidays, Sa Pa often experiences local congestion, especially in the central area from the lake to Cat Cat tourist area.
In addition, some street festival activities in the evening are also affected by the slow movement of a large number of vehicles on the route.
Even on weekends, due to narrow roads, congestion often occurs.
Not to mention, people and tourists traveling from Sa Pa ward to tourist attractions in Cau May, Ta Van, Ban Ho, Nam Cang all have to go through the central area, where restaurants, hotels, and accommodation facilities are concentrated, so the traffic situation is always overloaded.
According to the Chairman of Sa Pa Ward People's Committee, after many planning times, to limit the impact on architecture and natural landscape, investing in a connecting road from the National Highway 4D bypass to the center is very suitable.
The project will pass through the stadium, then dig a tunnel through Ham Rong mountain to connect with provincial road 152 to Ta Van, Ban Ho, Muong Bo communes. The route has a total length of about 10km, of which the tunnel is 1km long.
If the route is invested in, it will completely overcome previous local traffic congestion points, ensuring smooth connection.
Thereby, creating an airy space in the central area, facilitating the organization of cultural activities, tourism and the development of walking streets.
Previously, the People's Committee of Lao Cai province approved the investment policy for the connecting road, from the National Highway 4D bypass to the center of Sa Pa ward.
The route has a total length of about 4.4km, including: Expanding the bypass section, the section from the 4D National Highway intersection to the newly opened road intersection about 1km long; building a new road from the 4D National Highway bypass to the center of Sa Pa ward about 3.4km long.
Mr. Phan Dang Toan - Secretary of Sa Pa Ward - also admitted that at some times there is still traffic congestion, affecting the travel of people and tourists.
Investing in upgrading routes in the area and building tunnels through the mountains will meet the development requirements of Sa Pa National Tourist Area.
"Currently, Sa Pa ward is coordinating with the Department of Construction to work with the consulting unit, calculate the tunnel route and connection plan in accordance with the existing traffic system, ensuring synchronous, beautiful connections, and effective operation when the project comes into operation," Mr. Phan Dang Toan shared.
