Overloaded rest stops on the North-South Expressway

TPO - When put into use to serve vehicles traveling on the North-South Expressway in the East, some temporary rest stops often experience congestion during rush hours, especially during holidays. The reason is due to unreasonable traffic organization and poor service quality.

The Vietnam Road Administration (VRA) has just sent a document to Project Management Boards (PMUs) and investors requesting improvement of service quality at temporary rest stops on the Eastern North-South Expressway.

Accordingly, in order to serve people and vehicles traveling on the North-South Expressway in the East, a number of temporary rest stops have been put into use in the past. However, the use of these stations is not guaranteed because of unreasonable traffic organization, poor service quality, and unsanitary conditions, so congestion is likely to occur during rush hours or holidays.

The rest stop on the North-South Expressway, from Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh, is constantly overloaded, especially during rush hour and holidays.

The Vietnam Road Administration requests that the Project Management Boards closely coordinate with investors, rest stop operators, the Road Management Department and the Traffic Police Department to urgently review the current status and operation plans at the temporary stations. It is necessary to adjust and supplement necessary items to ensure absolute traffic safety, improve operating conditions and enhance service quality for road users.

In addition, the Project Management Boards must regularly inspect and urge the construction progress of rest stops; require businesses and investors building rest stops to fully equip sanitary equipment, electricity and water supply systems, ensuring a clean, comfortable and safe environment throughout the construction period of the official rest stop.

According to the Vietnam Road Administration, investors have only been selected for 18/21 rest stops in the North-South Expressway project in the East, of which most of the new expressway sections only have temporary rest stops but are overloaded and lack amenities such as: Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau...

Notably, although there are only about 7 months left until the completion of all 21 rest stops on the route, to date no stations have officially begun construction.

Restroom area of a highway rest stop. Photo: Loc Lien.

Regarding the rest stops on the North-South Expressway in the East, the Ministry of Construction has just issued a document requesting the Vietnam Road Administration to co-direct investors and project management boards to speed up the investment and construction progress of rest stops according to signed contracts, and strictly handle investors or businesses that are late in implementing the project.

While waiting for the completion of the investment in the construction of rest stops, the Ministry of Construction requests the Vietnam Road Administration and the Project Management Boards to urgently review the items that have been invested in at rest stops on the route, improving the quality of service and safety for vehicles entering and exiting the rest stops.

Previously, the Ministry of Construction said that the site clearance work had not met the contract schedule, affecting the completion of the rest stop on the highway. In addition, the delay in completing the investment in the construction of the rest stop also affected the plan to collect fees to the state budget...

Loc Lien

Source: https://tienphong.vn/qua-tai-tram-dung-nghi-tam-tren-cao-toc-bac-nam-post1743081.tpo