A three-level overpass that opened in Danang yesterday (March 29) failed its first test when thousands of curious visitors brought traffic to a standstill.

Pedestrians had been allowed to see the new overpass from March 24-26 before it opened to traffic, but many wanted to use it on its first day, with pedestrians, motorbikes and cars jamming the top level to take pictures and take in the enormity of the overpass.

"I heard that the construction was completed and inaugurated on the 40th anniversary of Danang's liberation, so I brought my wife and kids here. The overpass looks beautiful," said a visitor from Dien Ban District.

The large number of visitors resulted in a long tail-back of traffic on the top level of overpass. Traffic police had to persuade people to keep moving, rather than stopping to take pictures. Many bicycle drivers had to push their bikes because foot traffic was too crowded.

The USD93m Nga Ba Hue Overpass is located at the gateway to Danang at the city's busiest intersection. It was completed in just 18 months. It is expected to ease traffic congestion and reduce accidents, with capacity to carry 30 trains, 5,000 cars and trucks, 10,000 motorbikes and 80,000 bicycles a day.

Designers included architectural features drawn from the ancient Cham Kingdom in the central region.

Taking pictures on the overpass

Young people take selfies on inauguration day

Congestion on streets leading to the overpass

Vehicles park on the overpass

Crowded overpass

Police try to ease congestion on connected streets

Lower levels are less crowded than the top level