Nghe An: Traffic accident danger on Provincial Road 542E

In 2018, the project to restore and renovate Nguyen Truong To Street (now Provincial Road 542E) was implemented by Nghe An Department of Transport. However, the project has only been implemented for 9 km from Quan Hanh town (Nghi Loc) to the gate of Nguyen Truong To Secondary School, Hung Trung commune (Hung Nguyen), the rest has not been upgraded yet. Photo: Tien Dong

It was not until the tragic accident that killed Nguyen Thi H. (born in 1997) and her three children in Bui Ha hamlet, Hung Trung commune on March 6 that people started talking about the lack of traffic safety on this provincial road. Photo: Tien Dong

Previously, local people and authorities had repeatedly petitioned the management agency to put up signs, speed limit signs, and signs restricting the operating time of trucks on this route. Because near this area there is a soil and rock mine in Nghi Cong Nam commune (Nghi Loc), supplying materials for the construction of the North-South expressway and civil works. The number of trucks carrying soil and rock circulating every day is very large. Photo: Tien Dong

Trucks carrying materials from the quarry in Nghi Cong Nam commune then enter Provincial Road 542E and transport them to other places, regardless of the time, causing chaos and traffic safety problems for people traveling on the road. In the photo, a truck carrying materials from Nghi Cong Nam commune prepares to turn onto Provincial Road 542E. Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Chairman of Hung Trung Commune People's Committee said: Many times before, at the meetings of clusters, districts and communes, there were opinions to put up signs to limit speed to the lowest level, even put up signs to limit the operating time of trucks carrying materials, especially when passing through school gates and crowded residential areas. However, it was still not resolved. In the photo: Trucks run through residential areas on a narrow road, causing a lot of dust. Photo: Tien Dong

According to Mr. Hai, on Provincial Road 542E passing through Hung Trung commune, there are 3 schools with a high density of students, namely Primary School, Secondary School and High School (all named after the famous person Nguyen Truong To). If there is no sign restricting operating hours, the risk of traffic accidents is always present, because at the time when students go to school and leave school from 6:30 - 7:30; 10:30 - 11:45 and 16:15 - 17:00, this narrow road is very congested. In the photo: Vehicles avoid each other right in front of the gate of Nguyen Truong To Secondary School. Photo: Tien Dong

At school dismissal time, the road in front of Nguyen Truong To Primary School is always congested. In order to limit the risk of unfortunate traffic accidents, the authorities need to soon have a solution to manage vehicles, especially heavy trucks, traveling on this route. Photo: Tien Dong