Eliminate self-opening paths across railways, prevent accident risks

Many self-opened railway crossings that pose a potential risk to traffic safety in Quang Ngai province have been handled by local authorities, resulting in many self-opened crossings being closed.

Close multiple self-opening railroad crossings

Along the 100km North-South railway through Quang Ngai, there are many self-opened paths and unsafe crossings, posing a potential risk of traffic accidents.

The self-opened path through Duc Hiep commune is sealed with reinforced concrete and welded iron posts to prevent people from driving vehicles through.

According to railway statistics, in early 2024, the section of the route through Quang Ngai province had more than 80 self-opened crossings and unsafe level crossings. In particular, the self-opened crossing system posed many risks and posed a great risk of railway accidents.

Immediately after the warning from the authorities, Quang Ngai province directed localities to take action, review, evaluate and coordinate with relevant units, especially the Traffic Safety Committee of localities where railways pass through, to plan to remove, close and strictly prohibit people from traveling through.

In Mo Duc district, there are many self-made paths that have existed for a long time. After inspection, the authorities have stepped in to assess the level of danger for each path.

Accordingly, the Traffic Police Team of Mo Duc District Police coordinated with Nghia Binh Railway Joint Stock Company, Railway Safety Management Department II - Vietnam Railway Authority and People's Committees of related communes to immediately remove 4 paths with high potential for accidents.

It was noted that, immediately after the instruction, at the self-opened passage through Km 944+615, workers brought two concrete pillars to dig and bury deep, and at the same time used iron bars painted with bright warning colors to weld and reinforce between the iron bars to create a "fence" to prevent people from driving motorbikes through.

At Km 944+860 (Chu Tuong village, Duc Hiep commune), with the same solution as above, the self-opening path has been sealed.

Similarly, two self-opened paths at Km 947+910 (Phuoc Luong village, Duc Hoa commune), Km 953+550 (Chau Me village, Duc Phong commune) are also fenced off knee-high, motorbikes cannot pass through.

The work of reviewing and eliminating self-made paths has been carried out drastically by Quang Ngai province, when last year 15 self-made paths were eliminated.

According to the Traffic Safety Committee of Mo Duc District, these are self-made paths crossing the railway, posing a potential risk of accidents. Closing the fence and removing the self-made paths at the above locations is to contribute to ensuring traffic safety.

“The unit will continue to close the remaining passages to ensure railway traffic safety and order through the area. At the same time, it will review existing level crossings to find effective solutions,” said a representative of the Traffic Safety Committee of Mo Duc district.

In addition to Mo Duc district, in the past year, Quang Ngai province has also directed localities with railways passing through to review and close 15 other self-opened paths in Binh Son and Son Tinh districts...

Continue to close dozens of remaining self-opening passages

According to records, although the railway line through Quang Ngai is 100km long and has dozens of self-opened paths, propaganda work on railway safety has been promoted and the local authorities have taken drastic measures, so in 2024 there were no serious railway accidents in the area.

Recently, Railway Traffic Police Team No. 2 (Traffic Police Department), Railway Safety Management Department II (Vietnam Railway Department) and functional agencies of Quang Ngai province coordinated to inspect and review self-opened paths through Mo Duc district.

Thereby, identifying a number of self-opened paths with high traffic volume and high risk of traffic accidents because the above locations are located in sections with limited visibility, curves, self-opened paths with steep slopes, narrow width, and rough road surfaces. It is necessary to develop a plan to close and remove self-opened paths.

In particular, it is recommended to urgently close the passages through Km944+250 (Phuoc Son village, Duc Hiep commune); Km947+150, Km946+799, Km946+370, Km948+380, Km948+600 (Phuoc An village and Phuoc My village, Duc Hoa commune); Km957+140, Km957+325 (Tu Son 2 village, Duc Lan commune).

Major Huynh Trung Dinh, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Team, Mo Duc District Police, said that the self-opened walkways are eligible to be closed or removed, but the local authorities have not been really determined. The walkway at Km 957+020 has just been upgraded to a level crossing with an automatic barrier. As for the remaining self-opened walkways, they will be advised to continue closing them.

The Traffic Police Department and authorities of Quang Ngai province inspected a self-opened path and recommended that it be closed.

At the same time, coordinate with localities, propose plans to build access roads, advise on planning, and proceed to close and remove these self-opened paths as soon as possible.

It is known that the whole Quang Ngai province currently has 62 self-opened paths spread across districts and towns where the railway passes. Most of these paths are small, narrow and steep, with limited visibility, so the risk of accidents is high.

Nguyen Phong, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Quang Ngai Traffic Safety Committee, said that for the remaining self-opened walkways, to strengthen the assurance of railway traffic safety and order through the area, local authorities are requested to continue to review and resolutely remove the walkways to ensure railway traffic safety and order.

For road and railway intersections under local management, paint lines, signs, and speed bumps should be added to enhance the guidance and warning effects in the area.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/quang-ngai-xoa-loi-di-tu-mo-qua-duong-sat-phong-ngua-nguy-co-tai-nan-192241204172921675.htm