Concerns when cars are allowed to run at 90 km/h on Trung Luong – My Thuan Expressway

Tien Giang Many are concerned about the proposal to increase the maximum speed to 90 km/h on the Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway, because the route does not have an emergency lane, is crowded, and is prone to accidents.

Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway near Than Cuu Nghia intersection, February 2022. Photo: Hoang Nam

The proposal to increase the maximum speed from 80 km/h to 90 km/h by the Department of Expressways was made at the request of the Ministry of Transport for the 4-lane expressway invested in multiple phases. This unit believes that increasing vehicle speed during the road exploitation process is "scientific and practical, contributing to increasing the efficiency of investment and exploitation of the sections".

Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway is 51 km long, 16 m wide, 4 lanes, with a total investment of more than 12,000 billion VND, and will be put into operation from April 2022. As it is a route from Ho Chi Minh City to the West, after operation, the expressway will attract more vehicles, helping to reduce the load on National Highway 1. The time from the city to My Thuan will decrease from 3 hours to 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The leader of Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT Joint Stock Company (the unit that manages and operates the expressway) said that the average traffic volume on the expressway is currently about 22,000-23,000 vehicles per day and night. Due to the high volume of vehicles, the route does not have an emergency lane but only stops, increasing the speed during this period will pose many potential safety risks.

Route of Trung Luong - My Thuan Expressway. Graphics: Thanh Huyen

Director of Tien Giang Department of Transport Tran Van Bon also disagreed with the proposal to increase the speed limit on the highway. Because the regulation allows vehicles to travel at a maximum speed of 90 km/h on roads 3.75 m wide, outside densely populated areas. Meanwhile, the Trung Luong - My Thuan highway is 3.5 m wide, only ensuring a speed of 80 km/h.

According to Mr. Bon, instead of proposing to increase the speed, the route needs to be invested in expanding in phase 2 soon. After half a year of operation, the number of cars on the route increased rapidly, so the People's Committee of Tien Giang province proposed the Ministry of Transport to invest in the project. The expansion project is estimated to have a total investment of 9,500 billion VND, expected to be completed in 2025.

Previously, when implementing the first phase, the highway was planned and cleared with a width of more than 32 m, meeting the construction of 6 lanes and two emergency lanes.

Hoang Nam

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/lo-ngai-khi-oto-duoc-chay-90-km-h-o-cao-toc-trung-luong-my-thuan-4605770.html