North-South Expressway still lacks rest stops

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Vietnam Road Administration (Ministry of Construction) has just sent a document to Project Management Boards (PMUs), Rest Stop Investors and Road Management Areas requesting urgent investment and construction of rest stops on the Eastern North-South Expressway.

Construction of a rest stop on the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay highway - Photo: XD Newspaper

The agency said that so far, the unit has signed contracts with investors to build 21 rest stops on the Eastern North-South Expressway. The Government, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Construction have directed that public service works at rest stops must be completed before December 31, 2025.

However, the progress of implementing rest stops is still slow, not meeting requirements, some stations still have problems with land acquisition, and some investors are not determined in implementation.

Essential public service works must be completed before December 31, 2025.

Completing the rest stop is an urgent task to implement toll collection on state-invested highways. Therefore, the Vietnam Road Administration requires Project Management Boards and Investors to clearly understand their responsibilities and determine the goal of completing essential public service works before December 31, 2025.

"The delay in completing the rest stops will affect the expressways when they are put into operation and the toll collection progress. Relevant agencies and investors are responsible to the Government, the Prime Minister , the Minister of Construction and the provisions of the law," the Department of Roads affirmed.

Re-establish construction progress, urge contractors

To complete the rest stops on schedule, the Department of Roads requires the Project Management Boards to closely monitor the site, support investors in promptly handling arising problems and guide investors to re-establish the detailed construction progress of each station to check and urge to ensure completion on schedule.

At the same time, coordinate with localities to completely resolve existing problems and obstacles regarding the site at the stations: Cam Lo - La Son, Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Km15, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Km144, Phan Thiet - Dau Giay to hand over all remaining sites to the Investor before November 15, 2025.

For Investors, the Vietnam Road Administration requests serious rectification in direction and management according to the responsibility and authority of Investors, not to continue to let delays occur as in the past.

Investors need to re-establish the detailed construction schedule of each rest stop to complete it on schedule; the schedule must ensure clear people, clear work, clear responsibilities and clear completion time for each work item. There must be drastic solutions in directing, operating and organizing construction to complete public service works before December 31, 2025, completing all rest stops according to the contract schedule.

The investor increased human resources, equipment and construction teams, speeding up the progress of construction items. Focusing on completing the entrance and exit roads, parking areas, and restrooms to put them into operation in time. Taking advantage of favorable weather, organizing construction in "3 shifts, 4 shifts" to compensate for slow progress, speeding up the completion of items as required.

The Vietnam Road Administration said it will review progress weekly. If progress does not change and meet the required progress, it will consider handling the Investor's responsibilities according to contract regulations and report to the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry in charge and the Prime Minister at meetings of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and key projects in the transport sector.

Road Management Areas need to regularly inspect the site of rest stops in the management area, grasp the situation and actual construction progress; coordinate and guide investors to carry out procedures for connecting the exit and entrance roads of the stations, handle problems at the site according to their authority; promptly pay attention, warn, and rectify the work of ensuring traffic safety, hygiene, and environment, especially at stations that already have temporary rest stops.

The North-South Expressway in the East has 24 newly invested stations. Of which, the Vietnam Road Administration has signed contracts with investors to implement 21 stations including: 8 stations signed contracts in August 2024, 10 stations signed contracts in March-April 2025.

Up to now, 16/21 stations have started construction, of which: 3 stations have basically completed public service works; 5 stations are leveling the ground and constructing the foundation of public service works.

9 stations have gathered equipment, leveled the ground, and leveled the ground; 5 stations have not been deployed yet including: Cam Lo - La Son, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Km144 due to site clearance problems, Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh, Hau Giang - Ca Mau, Can Tho - Hau Giang due to newly signed contracts and project planning.

For the 8 stations signed contracts in 2024, up to now, 4 stations have not yet handed over all the land (Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Km144, Phan Thiet - Dau Giay). 13 stations signed contracts in 2025, by September 2025, only 11 stations have been handed over all the land, while 2 stations have not yet handed over all the land (Cam Lo - La Son, Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Km15).

Regarding the lack of rest stops on highways, at the workshop on experience in highway management and operation on October 14, Mr. Le Kim Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, pointed out four major challenges in highway management and operation.

Of the nearly 2,300 km of highways in operation, many sections have only two lanes, no hard dividers, and no emergency lanes. In addition, nighttime lighting and limited visibility cause problems for vehicles traveling on the highway, especially at night. The required distance warnings are also not fully implemented, making traffic accidents very likely to occur.

The lack of consistency and impracticality in applying technical standards on speed, sign positions, lane separation, etc. has caused confusion and disorientation for drivers, especially new drivers or those who rarely use the highway.

Some highways lack rest stops, fuel stations, or rest stops with poor service and substandard restrooms, which not only affect drivers' health and psychology but can also be an indirect cause of fatigue, lack of concentration, and illegal parking on the highway.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/cao-toc-bac-nam-van-thieu-tram-dung-nghi-102251111175836654.htm