Over 40 kilometres of separation lanes are being installed on key roads, where traffic accidents usually occur, in HCM City, at the cost of VND50 billion (over $2.2 million).

The local authorities expect that separation lanes will help reduce traffic accidents and congestion in the city. The task is scheduled to finish before April 30.

According to the local Department of Transportation, since separation lanes are placed on the National Highway 1, the number of traffic accidents has felt sharply, by nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of 2012 against the corresponding period of last year.

The department will also repair the system of traffic signal plates in the city.

The roads that will have separation lanes include: Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Cong Hoa, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Truong Chinh, Nguyen Van Linh, Le Thi Rieng and National Highway 22 – section from Hoc Mon to Cu Chi).