In recent days, public opinion has been stirred up by the construction contractor (Son Hai Group Company Limited) reporting that some of the company's traffic signs on the Nghi Son - Dien Chau expressway had the words "Son Hai road section warranted for 10 years" erased. This action caused damage to the company's property.

Previously, in response to the press, the leader of Son Hai Group said that he had not received any documents or notices from Road Management Area II or Project Management Board 6 regarding the removal of the warranty commitment on the signs. At the same time, he affirmed that the signs were the group's property and were not included in the payment items in the project.

Speaking to the press, the Vietnam Road Administration said that the Nghi Son - Dien Chau expressway project is a component project of the North - South expressway construction investment project in the East phase 2017 - 2020, implemented in the form of public investment from the State budget with Project Management Board 6 as the investor.

The project was put into operation from September 1, 2023, and Project Management Board 6 handed over the assets to Road Management Area II on June 20. However, due to the need to complete some procedures, Project Management Board 6 continued to manage it until August 20. Since August 20, Road Management Area II has officially directly managed and operated the Nghi Son - Dien Chau expressway.

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Vietnam Road Administration said that the management agency repeatedly requested Son Hai Group to remove the illegal sign, but by October, the company still had not done so. Photo: Hoang Ha

The 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates: "It is not allowed to attach to road signs any content unrelated to the meaning and purpose of the road signs."

In addition, according to the approved technical design documents and construction drawings of the project, there is no content stating the construction warranty period or commitment to the construction warranty period on the signboard.

“Therefore, the act of attaching the words "Son Hai road section warrants 10 years" on the road signs of the Nghi Son - Dien Chau expressway project is not in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, Road Sign Standards QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT and the project design documents approved by competent authorities,” informed a representative of the Vietnam Road Administration.

Recently, Road Management Area II has coordinated with Project Management Board 6 (investor) and relevant parties to review the signaling system on the Nghi Son - Dien Chau expressway and discovered 8 signs with inappropriate content on the route and requested Project Management Board 6 and the contractor to fix them. After that, Road Management Area II issued many documents requesting Project Management Board 6 to direct the contractor to remove the inappropriate content on the signs. However, by October 2024, the contractor had not fixed or removed them.

The Vietnam Road Administration emphasized that highways are built, operated, and exploited with high technical requirements and large investment costs. The sign system is an important part of the highway project with the requirement that the information on the signs must be clear, easy to recognize, and avoid causing misunderstandings and distraction for drivers.

“Therefore, in order to promote investment efficiency and ensure safety for people and vehicles traveling on the highway, the request of Road Management Area II for the management unit to regularly maintain and fix the above-mentioned signs is necessary and in accordance with the provisions of the law,” affirmed a representative of the Vietnam Road Administration.

Immediately after the Department of Roads made this conclusion, the leader of Son Hai Group briefly shared on the company's Fanpage with the content: "On October 29, when we discovered a crane and a group of people removing the 10-year warranty line. Through the media, we learned that the Road Management Area II directed the removal.

We are now working with Road Management Area II to find a suitable solution that complies with legal regulations, but there must also be information on a 10-year warranty commitment for traffic participants to monitor."