The HCM City Department of Transport has promised to pull down all construction barriers on city roads before the 27th day of this month to facilitate easy traffic during the Lunar New Year holidays.

There are around 60 of them on 32 streets, just half the number compared to 2009.

The Department inspected the long-running Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe environmental project in Binh Thanh District to ensure the contractor was dismantling fences and barricades said to be one of the main causes of traffic congestion during rush hour.

It ordered the work to be stopped between January 18 and February 10.

While the contractor has explained to the authorities that a barrier at the intersection of Vu Tung and Bui Huu Nghia streets in Binh Thanh District will not be removed, it has agreed to remove others at places like Dinh Tien Hoang, Vo Thi Sau, Hai Ba Trung, Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phan Dinh Phung, Cach Mang Thang Tam and Le Van Sy before the date.

The Tan Hoa – Lo Gom urban upgrade work has put up 22 barriers on nine streets.

Tran Hong Nam, the Department's deputy chief inspector, said regular inspections would be done to make sure the barriers are dismantled and the road surface restored.

Stiff penalties would be handed to contractors who failed to carry out the task, he warned.

After Tet, a further 20km of road will be dug up./.