Recommendations for Da Nang buses

The two-way bus from Da Nang to Tam Ky is chosen by most passengers to travel between Quang Nam and Da Nang. Photo: CT

The Department of Transport of Da Nang City said that the industry received information from Road Management Area III in Official Dispatch No. 2495, dated October 11, 2024, regarding the organization of traffic flow during the construction and repair of the new Cau Lau Bridge. The traffic flow according to the above plan is related to the operation of the inter-provincial bus route between Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province (route LK21). Therefore, the Department of Transport of the two localities has proactively studied the plan to adjust the bus route according to the flow plan of Road Management Area III.

However, the options to adjust the route of the LK21 bus route from Da Nang to Tam Ky without going through the new Cau Lau bridge all increase the travel distance significantly (increasing by 20 - 30 km), increasing the time to complete a journey, and at the same time, the increase in costs leads to an increase in ticket prices by 30-50% compared to the current ticket prices. These increases have a great impact and are not convenient for people to continue choosing the LK21 bus route to travel. Therefore, the options to adjust the route of the LK21 bus route without going through the new Cau Lau bridge are not feasible and do not meet the travel needs of people on the route.

A large number of trucks travel through the new Cau Lau bridge (connecting Dien Ban and Duy Xuyen on National Highway 1). Photo: CT

LK21 bus route is an inter-provincial bus route connecting Da Nang City with Tam Ky City and districts, towns and cities on the route to serve the daily travel needs of people with 64 trips/day (including both departure and return). According to the assessment of the Department of Transport of the two localities, since its operation in April 2024, LK21 bus route has met the needs of people well, gradually creating the habit of traveling by public transport, contributing to reducing personal vehicles participating in traffic on routes, including national highways and provincial roads.

Based on the above contents, the Department of Transport of Da Nang City has sent the technical specifications of the type of bus currently used to operate the LK21 bus route and recommended that the Road Management Area III study and have a plan to adjust the traffic flow organization in the direction of allowing buses operating on the LK21 route to pass through the new Cau Lau bridge during the construction period to ensure the conditions for maintaining the operation of this bus route, meeting the travel needs of the people.

As reported by Quang Nam Newspaper, Road Management Area III has developed a traffic diversion plan when repairing the new Cau Lau Bridge. In particular, all types of cars will be banned from circulating with the expected traffic diversion bridge closure period being 60 non-consecutive days. By organizing it into 3 phases, each phase completely blocks vehicles for 20 days, with a 5-day interval between each phase. Construction and traffic diversion to ensure traffic safety is expected to begin at the end of November 2024.

After a meeting between the National Highway 1 management unit and the relevant departments of Quang Nam province, the localities involved in traffic diversion agreed not to ban non-motorized vehicles and motorbikes from circulating. Backup arrangements were made to ensure priority vehicles for urgent missions.

Deputy Director of the Quang Nam Department of Transport - Mr. Le Quang Hieu said that the industry has worked with the Da Nang Department of Transport to agree on the proposal to continue allowing buses from Da Nang to Tam Ky and vice versa to pass through the new Cau Lau bridge during the repair period. Because taking the detour through Giao Thuy bridge with a travel distance of more than 30km will increase costs, while the main users of the bus are the poor, students, and people going to see a doctor.

People also suggested not to ban ambulances from circulating. Because ambulances carrying critically ill patients need to move in the shortest time to the hospital, if they take a detour, it will endanger human lives.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/kien-nghi-cho-xe-bust-da-nang-tam-ky-tiep-tuc-qua-cau-cau-lau-moi-3143949.html