What do inspectors and traffic police say?

TPO - In an interview with Tien Phong newspaper regarding the construction of barricades on Kim Dong street before traffic flow was properly organized and rerouted (as reported by Tien Phong on the morning of May 15th), both the Inspectorate and the Traffic Police stated that the investor and the construction unit had not followed the correct procedures and regulations.

Major Pham Duc Hoang, from Traffic Police Team No. 4, Hanoi Traffic Police Department, stated that at the time the incident was reported, the investor and construction unit of the Ring Road 2.5 underpass project at the Giai Phong - Kim Dong intersection had not yet implemented traffic diversion and organization plans when erecting barriers to narrow the Kim Dong street.

According to Mr. Hoang, on the afternoon of May 15th, Traffic Police Team No. 14 inspected and reviewed the situation and learned that the investor, the Hanoi Traffic Project Management Board, has completed the draft traffic organization plan and is currently submitting it to the state management agency, the Hanoi Department of Transport, for review and approval.

Street barriers erected on Kim Dong Street before traffic management was implemented: What do inspectors and traffic police say? (Image 1)

Kim Dong Street is currently half-blocked by the barriers of the Ring Road 2.5 tunnel project, but traffic flow has not yet been rerouted or organized.

Regarding the contractor's action of erecting barriers and narrowing Kim Dong Street without implementing a traffic diversion and organization plan, a representative of Traffic Police Team No. 14 stated that this was not in accordance with the procedures and regulations for construction and ensuring traffic order and safety on the road.

“Upon inspection, the construction unit, Cienco 4 Joint Stock Company (Cienco 4), has a construction permit for erecting barriers on Kim Dong Street, but has not yet implemented a traffic management plan. In reality, even with the road narrowed by about half, all types of vehicles still enter Kim Dong Street. This has caused traffic difficulties in recent days, and Traffic Police Team No. 14 has had to maximize its personnel on Kim Dong Street and the intersection with Giai Phong Street. Only after the traffic pressure there subsides are the teams allowed to end their shifts,” said a representative of Traffic Police Team No. 14.

The leader of Traffic Police Team No. 14 also stated that they have requested the main contractor to immediately carry out construction on the road in accordance with regulations. They emphasized that the construction of an important city project cannot lead to neglecting traffic safety and disregarding the prescribed procedures.

The construction site of the Ring Road 2.5 tunnel has been cited for violations three times.

Regarding the assessment of the construction process and the implementation of legal regulations at the Ring Road 2.5 underpass project, Mr. Nguyen Doanh Oanh - Deputy Team Leader of the Hoang Mai Traffic Inspection Team, Hanoi Department of Transport Inspection, stated that, in addition to the erection of barriers on Kim Dong Street before traffic organization and diversion were implemented, one contractor working there has been inspected and had violations recorded on-site by the Hoang Mai Traffic Inspection Team up to three times.

Street barriers erected on Kim Dong Street before traffic management was implemented: What do inspectors and traffic police say? (Image 2)

Due to the location and extent of the construction barriers on Kim Dong Street, vehicles are left with only about half of the road width to move through.

Specifically, the first offense involved construction work leaving soil, rocks, and construction materials outside the permitted construction site, affecting traffic; the second involved construction work that did not comply with regulations regarding barriers and signage; and the third involved construction work on-site without a permit…

Regarding the traffic inspection team's proposed solution for the situation where the Ring Road 2.5 underpass project is blocking off Kim Dong Street but the investor and contractor have not yet implemented traffic diversion and organization plans, the leader of the Hoang Mai Traffic Inspection Team stated that on May 16th, the traffic inspection team will form an inter-agency task force to inspect the site. During the inspection, if the investor and contractor do not comply with regulations in road construction work and fail to ensure traffic flow at the site, the inter-agency task force will issue a report and take action according to regulations.