On February 13, Mr. Cao Viet Hung - Deputy Director of Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Construction) said that he had sent an urgent document to the People's Committees of Quang Ngai and Gia Lai provinces on temporarily suspending the operation of the main Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway section during the 2026 Lunar New Year.
The route section is expected to be put into operation from Km1050+00 (connecting Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway) to Km1138+00 (adjacent to Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon project).
Previously, on February 11, Project Management Board 2 (the project investor) announced that it would officially operate this expressway from 11:00 AM on February 12 to serve the increased travel demand during Tet.
However, during the inspection and assessment of the operational capacity of the route, situations of ensuring operational safety, especially handling arising incidents, have appeared, so there are not enough conditions for traffic to open according to regulations.
The temporary suspension is also to ensure synchronicity when operating related expressways on the North-South axis in the East, and at the same time strengthen coordination between units to ensure safety for traffic.
Project Management Board 2 sent an apology to the people for the sudden change, and at the same time requested the locality to widely inform people to proactively adjust their travel plans.
The official operating plan will be announced after technical and safety issues are thoroughly resolved, ensuring sufficient operating conditions according to regulations.
The Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway started construction in early 2023, passing through Quang Ngai and Gia Lai, is one of 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway in the East phase 2021 - 2025. The expressway is 88km long, with a total investment of about 20,400 billion VND, designed according to level 120 expressway standards, design speed of 120 km/h; the current phase operates 4 lanes, roadbed width of 17m.
According to the traffic organization plan announced earlier, the maximum speed of 90 km/h applies to passenger cars, trucks under 3.5 tons and passenger cars up to 29 seats; 80 km/h for sleeper passenger cars and other vehicles; minimum speed of 60 km/h; at intersections, maximum 50 km/h according to traffic signs.
