Many potential inadequacies for accidents
After the traffic accident between 2 trucks that occurred in the early morning of January 25, it shows that the traffic organization at Dai Nga bridge on National Highway 20 (Lam Dong) still has many shortcomings that need to be overcome.
According to the Department of Construction of Lam Dong province, Dai Nga bridge is an item belonging to the Project to renovate the section through Mimosa Pass and some works on National Highway 20. The project was approved by the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) with a total investment of 441 billion VND, deployed in the period 2023-2025.
To date, the route through Mimosa Pass, about 10.4km long, has been completed; 10/11 bridges have been handed over and completed construction.
The new Dai Nga bridge is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 to replace the old bridge. However, due to site clearance problems in the connecting road area, it cannot be opened to traffic and put into use.
Real-world records show that the new Dai Nga bridge has basically completed the bridge part and the road surface connecting both ends.
However, there is still one household that has not handed over land to construct the positive taluy at the access road, making it impossible for the project to be accepted and exploited.
Although the new bridge has not been allowed to circulate, the construction unit has drawn lines to divide lanes between the old Dai Nga bridge and the new bridge.
Accordingly, the old bridge is for the direction from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat, the new bridge is for the opposite direction. However, at both ends of the new bridge, wires are still stretched, preventing vehicles from passing.
According to a representative of the Madaguoi Traffic Police Station, marking lanes when the new bridge has not been opened to traffic is very easy to cause confusion for traffic participants, especially at night.
Vehicle drivers may mistakenly enter bridges that are not allowed to circulate, posing a high risk of accidents.
Emergency solutions to ensure traffic safety
Regarding this incident, the Madaguoi Traffic Police Station (Traffic Police Department of Lam Dong Provincial Police) has coordinated with the road management unit to implement temporary measures to temporarily overcome the shortcomings and inadequacies in traffic organization at Dai Nga bridge.
According to the working minutes of functional agencies, the construction unit must urgently overcome the inadequacies at the Dai Nga bridge renovation project (Km129+500, National Highway 20).
In the immediate future, it is necessary to place medians to redistribute lanes at the beginning of the old Dai Nga bridge in the direction from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat into two separate opposite lanes.
This is considered a temporary solution to ensure traffic safety during the time when Dai Nga bridge has not been opened to traffic.
Functional agencies of Lam Dong province requested BOT and BT National Highway 20 Co., Ltd., Road Management Office IV.1 and the investor (Project Management Board 85) to urgently overcome the shortcomings in traffic organization in the Dai Nga bridge area.
Specifically, it is necessary to install a complete system of road signs (indication signs, no-go signs) at both ends of the median strip; arrange warning lights so that traffic participants can easily recognize them. At the same time, draw simple, continuous yellow lines (line 1.2) from Km129 to Km130+300 on National Highway 20.
In addition, relevant units must plant "No Crossing" signs at both ends of the bridge; install warning lights and temporary signs during the construction period.
In particular, the construction unit must arrange forces to regulate and divert traffic 24/24 at both ends of the bridge until the bridge is put into operation.
Representatives of the construction unit said that they have sent a report to the Lam Dong Department of Construction requesting inspection and temporary opening of the new Dai Nga bridge to ensure traffic safety during the upcoming Lunar New Year 2026.
As Lao Dong Newspaper reported, at about 3:20 am on January 25, at Km129+600 Dai Nga bridge (Bao Lam 2 commune, Lam Dong province), a head-on collision occurred between two trucks, killing 2 people and injuring 2 others.
After the accident, functional forces quickly arrived to regulate traffic and examine the scene to investigate the cause.
