Speed limits on expressways will be raised from 80 km/h to 90 km/h.

Vietnam's highway standards will be completed in the first quarter of 2024

Continuing the 6th session, on the afternoon of November 6, participating in the questioning of Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, delegate Tran Quang Minh ( Quang Binh delegation) raised the issue of the current situation of many expressways that have been completed and put into operation, but only allow a maximum speed of 80 km/h. This does not optimally reduce transportation and travel time.

"I would like to ask the Minister to let us know whether there will be any speed adjustments on highways in the coming time to reduce traffic pressure, especially to reduce traffic accidents on National Highway 1A," a delegate asked.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang said that Vietnam has expressway design standards with 4 speed limits: 120km/h, 100km/h, 80km/h and 60km/h. This standard depends on technical factors. According to the Minister of Transport, if the route is invested synchronously, the speed can be up to 120km/h such as Hanoi - Hai Phong, Ha Long - Mong Cai, Cau Gie - Ninh Binh; or Phap Van - Cau Gie route 100km/h.

Minister Nguyen Van Thang said that since the beginning of 2023, the Ministry of Transport has researched and reviewed the standards and found that routes with a speed limit of 80 km/h can be increased to 90 km/h, while larger speed ranges must comply with regulations and standards.

"It is expected that in early 2024, the Ministry will change the maximum speed limit on expressways from 80 km/h to 90 km/h," said the Minister.

Regarding the opinion of delegate Tran Van Tien ( Vinh Phuc delegation) regarding the story of whether the current 2-lane or 4-lane expressway is suitable for standards or regulations, Minister Nguyen Van Thang said that the current standards are suitable; as for the regulations we are building.

“In October, the Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of Transport to develop Vietnam's highway standards and we have also reported to the Prime Minister that we expect to complete Vietnam's highway standards in the first quarter of 2024,” the Minister informed.

Committed to being responsible to the National Assembly for the quality of expressways under construction

Concerned about the quality of expressways, delegate Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy (Tay Ninh delegation) asked the Minister of Transport to provide specific solutions to avoid the situation of expressways being put into operation but soon damaged, repaired, causing great loss and waste like the Da Nang - Quang Ngai, Hanoi - Lao Cai, etc. routes in the recent past.

Responding to the delegates, the head of the transport sector said that in reality, in the recent past, there have only been a few projects as the delegates mentioned. However, only in a few locations, including both subjective and objective reasons.

Regarding standards, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Transport always puts quality first.

"In the upcoming report to the National Assembly, all expressways under construction must have quality according to international practices and standards, and the construction process must also be guaranteed to be the same as that of foreign construction," said the Minister.

On the side of the Ministry of Transport, the Minister said that he is closely coordinating with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement, remove difficulties and obstacles, and support investors in enterprises and contractors to ensure that all financial difficulties must be resolved harmoniously.

“Close supervision during the construction process from the very first days is required to ensure the quality of the project, and we, the Ministry of Transport, are committed to this and are responsible to the National Assembly and National Assembly deputies for the quality of the expressways under construction and to be constructed,” the Minister pledged./.

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