Images of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway after 3 months of operation.
The Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway is 49.3 km long, passing through two provinces, Nghe An (44.4 km) and Ha Tinh (4.9 km). Construction began in May 2021 and it was put into operation on June 30, 2024.
Nearly three months have passed since the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway was put into operation, with hundreds of vehicles traveling on this route daily, significantly reducing traffic congestion on National Highway 1A through Nghe An province. The expressway is still undergoing final inspections and testing before its official opening. Authorities from the Ministry of Transport have completed the traffic signage system regarding speed limits, emergency stopping locations, and emergency rescue contact numbers.
To meet transportation needs, Phase 1 of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot expressway has a scale of 4 lanes, 2 lanes on each side, with a roadbed width of 17 m, allowing cars to travel at a maximum speed of 90 km/h and a minimum speed of 60 km/h. The project has a total investment of over 11,150 billion VND, of which approximately 5,090 billion VND is mobilized by investors and over 6,060 billion VND is contributed by the State. The BOT contract was signed between the Ministry of Transport and a consortium of 6 investors.
Recently, the Ministry of Transport requested the project enterprise (investor) to inspect, supervise, and take full responsibility for the quality of the construction work, while also focusing on organizing inspections, assessments, and repairs to rectify defects in the cement concrete pavement at Km430+500.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport requires project enterprises to regularly inspect and review all completed construction items on the route to detect and promptly request the contractor to rectify any deficiencies and defects, ensuring compliance with the design requirements and construction contract regulations, and absolutely adhering to the approved traffic organization plan, ensuring traffic safety during the repair and operation phases.
During the management and operation process, if any factors affecting safety require adjustment, a plan for adjustment must be promptly drawn up and submitted to the Vietnam Road Administration for consideration and approval within its authority. The Ministry of Transport assigns the Vietnam Road Administration to preside over and coordinate with relevant units to inspect whether the project enterprise's operation and exploitation are in accordance with the approved traffic organization plan.
Currently, because the expressway is newly opened, some drivers are still unfamiliar with it; many drivers are not yet familiar with traffic signs, such as those indicating a safe distance of 50m, 100m, 200m, etc., or regulations regarding lanes allowed for overtaking and the permitted overtaking distance. Therefore, according to the reporter's observations, some vehicles are traveling at speeds slower than the regulated speed or overtaking improperly.
The route still lacks a complete system of rest stops and toll stations, which poses certain limitations for road users.
Here are some more images of the Dien Chau-Bai Vot expressway after 3 months of operation.
