The service road of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway is in serious disrepair.

According to observations by reporters in recent days, many sections of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway's service roads passing through Dien Chau district are experiencing surface peeling and prolonged subsidence, creating numerous dangerous potholes. This is especially true for the section from the intersection with National Highway 7A to the intersection with Road N2, stretching approximately 5km and mostly located in Dien Cat and Dien Tho communes.

This damaged condition not only causes inconvenience to traffic but also poses a high risk of accidents, especially for motorcyclists, cyclists, or those transporting goods. Not to mention, this section of road lacks lighting and warning signs, making it very dangerous to travel at night or in the rain.

Local residents have reported that this situation has persisted for nearly a year without being thoroughly resolved. Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a resident of Dien Cat commune, said: “Previously, the access road was very convenient, allowing people to go to work and take their children to school safely. But now, the road surface is uneven in many places, making it very dangerous for motorbikes, while trucks travel at a high density, further damaging the road. There have been many accidents and falls on this road already.”

It is known that the expressway service road is a secondary road running parallel to the main expressway, serving the transportation, production, and daily life needs of people living on both sides of the expressway, limiting cross-traffic congestion, minimizing the risk of accidents, and ensuring traffic safety. In some cases, this road is also used for maintenance, rescue, and emergency vehicles when necessary.

In reality, this service road is the main access route for residents of communes bordering the expressway, such as Dien Cat, Hanh Quang, and Dien Tho. The road was originally designed to serve local communities, with a small scale, narrow surface, and thin roadbed. However, according to residents, the frequent use of heavy vehicles has caused rapid damage to the road surface shortly after it was put into use.

According to statistics from Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company - the investor of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway - at least 10 sections of the service road surface are severely degraded. These include 3 points on the right side of the route at Km430+050, Km430+250, and Km432+600, and 7 points on the left side at Km430+150, Km430+250, Km431+000, Km431+800, Km432+080, Km435+250, and the section extending from Km435+700 to Km435+800. All damaged sections are located in Dien Chau district, with the highest concentration in Dien Cat commune, an area with a high population density and traffic volume.

In light of this situation, Phuc Thanh Hung Investment Joint Stock Company has issued a document requesting the construction units, namely Truong Son Construction Corporation and Cienco4 Group Joint Stock Company, to coordinate in inspecting and planning for urgent repairs to the damaged road sections in March 2025. At the same time, the investor also requested the contractors to immediately implement temporary traffic safety measures such as placing warning signs and diverting traffic in the deteriorated areas.

However, to date, while some sections have been temporarily repaired and patched up, the problem remains unresolved, with many sections still severely damaged and eroded, posing a high risk of traffic accidents.

To ensure long-term safety, local authorities and relevant units need to consider installing signs restricting vehicle weight limits on the service roads, deploying law enforcement to patrol, monitor, and penalize violations. Without firm measures, the deterioration will continue, not only endangering the public but also wasting investment budget and affecting the efficiency of the expressway's operation.