Van Ninh - Cam Lo Expressway is under construction, many vehicles still circulate freely

These days, on the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway, although workers, engineers and machinery are busy constructing items, heavy trucks, passenger cars, cars and motorbikes still freely travel at high speeds. This reality leads to the risk of traffic accidents that can happen at any time.

Many vehicles illegally entered the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway while the road was under construction - Photo: HN

Together with officers of the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway construction management unit present at the section passing through Con Tien commune, the reporter noticed many vehicles, mostly private cars and small cars, speeding while dozens of workers, engineers and machines were hurriedly constructing items to ensure traffic safety, drainage... of this expressway.

Every time they encounter workers, materials, and construction equipment on the road, vehicles slow down and weave to pass; meanwhile, semi-trailers and heavy trucks loaded with timber, sand, and rocks from businesses must stop completely, and the drivers must get out of the vehicles to clear the materials on the road before they can continue to circulate.

Mr. Tran Van Hai, in Cam Lo commune, said: “I drive a truck for a timber processing enterprise. In recent days, I have been transporting timber from Le Thuy, Ben Quan, Vinh Thuy, and Con Tien communes to Cam Lo every day. Because there are many entrances to the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway that have not been fenced off, I drive here because the road is smooth and clear, saving time and fuel. Many sections are under construction, and materials are piled up on the road, so drivers have to get off to clear the way before they can move.”

“The situation of many vehicles arbitrarily traveling at very high speeds on the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway while the new road surface is basically completed poses a potential risk of accidents that can happen at any time to workers and machines, especially when it rains or at night. In addition, workers also have to work harder and harder because the vehicles cause dust when it is sunny, mud splashes all over them when it rains, and they have to spend more time observing to ensure safety, affecting labor productivity,” said Mr. Dinh Van Ha, a technical officer of Construction Traffic Joint Stock Company No. 1.

According to the reporter's investigation, the reason why many vehicles are "carefree" to travel on the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway while the construction units have barricaded, placed warning signs, and placed obstacles prohibiting traffic at the main intersections leading to this route is because along the route there are still many openings connecting to residential roads and many access roads to the expressway that are under construction. The construction unit has closed some points but cannot close all of them because the contractor's motorbikes still have to go in and out to serve the construction of items to ensure traffic safety, drainage, etc.

The Van Ninh - Cam Lo Expressway is a component project of the North-South Expressway Project, Eastern phase 2021 - 2025, implemented in Quang Tri province, connecting with the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway. The project has a total length of 65.5km, 4 lanes, roadbed width of 17m, design speed of 90km/h, total investment capital of more than 9,900 billion VND, invested by the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board. The project started construction in January 2023 and is expected to open the entire route to traffic in mid-August 2025.

Mr. Mai Quy Khanh, representative of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board (investor), said: The situation of cars and motorbikes entering the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway without permission is very dangerous because they can collide with workers and machinery that are constructing the items. Along with that, the road surface has not been cleaned, there are still rocks, sharp iron and steel and other materials that pose a potential safety risk for these vehicles. This situation does not only occur in the section passing through Con Tien commune but also in many other localities along the entire expressway.

“To ensure the safety of workers, engineers and motorbikes on the construction site, we have implemented solutions; at the same time, we request local authorities and traffic police to further strengthen information and propaganda work so that people know and comply with traffic safety regulations, and do not travel on the highway without permission from the authorities,” said Mr. Khanh.

A heavy truck carrying timber from a plantation weaves through construction materials and motorbikes on the Van Ninh - Cam Lo highway to circulate - Photo: HN

Regarding this issue, Vice Chairman of Con Tien Commune People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc Trung informed: "The Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway passing through the commune is 13.4km long. Currently, there are many residential roads connecting to the expressway, so there is a situation where people arbitrarily drive cars and motorbikes onto the expressway. This is very dangerous and accidents can happen at any time, especially at night.

The local government will step up propaganda so that people do not arbitrarily travel on the highway; at the same time, it is requested that the highway construction management unit and contractors do a better job of informing and warning vehicles not to enter the highway under construction.

To ensure the safety of workers, construction machinery on the Van Ninh - Cam Lo expressway and vehicles, functional agencies and local governments need to have more timely and drastic solutions to rectify the situation of cars and motorbikes freely circulating on this route.

Huy Nam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/cao-toc-van-ninh-cam-lo-dang-thi-cong-nhieu-phuong-tien-van-tu-y-luu-thong-195773.htm