Responding to Lao Dong Newspaper recently regarding the muddy situation at rest stops on the Cam Lo - La Son highway, the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board said that this situation will end in 2025 by fixing and building new rest stops.
This information shows a positive and welcome move by the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board to minimize accident risks and avoid the risk of prolonged mud that causes frustration for people on this highway.
Speaking of the Cam Lo - La Son expressway, we remember that in the Central region, there is another expressway, Da Nang - Quang Ngai, which has been invested with more than 34,000 billion VND and has been in operation for 6 years, but up to now, there are absolutely no rest stops, gas stations or vehicle repair shops.
On a 139km stretch of road, such a lack of logistical infrastructure is unacceptable. Drivers who encounter unexpected problems must park in the emergency lane, facing the risk of traffic safety, delays, and even congestion if multiple vehicles encounter problems.
This inconvenience also puts pressure on the environment and public order. Many planned rest stops, which are hectares in size, are fenced off or turned into drying yards and garbage dumps.
Drivers are forced to find temporary stops to rest, repair their vehicles or wait for technical support. In the long run, this situation also affects the driver’s psychology and health, increasing the risk of accidents.
These shortcomings are not just the problem of a single enterprise or locality, but they reflect the lack of consistency and supervision in the project implementation process by relevant authorities.
More importantly, the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway has had many violations, leading to the prosecution of many project leaders. The project has been delayed, over budget, and to this day, the “logistics service” part is still unfinished.
While the Ministry of Transport, provincial authorities and people have continuously requested and petitioned, the quality of service on this highway has not improved.
Collecting fees but not building rest stops or completing items according to planning shows that the investor - specifically the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) - has not fulfilled its responsibility to the people, harming the reputation of the transport sector and related managers.
To make people feel secure in shortening their journeys on highways, there is no other way but to soon complete supporting projects to ensure smooth, convenient and safe traffic.
Not only the Da Nang - Quang Ngai route, but any expressway in Vietnam also requires a commensurate service quality. This is not only a responsibility but also a measure of transparency and efficiency in investment management for each key national transport infrastructure project.
