At 11:30 am on April 29, nearly 178km of the North-South Expressway in the East phase 2021-2025 through Quang Ngai and Gia Lai provinces officially opened to traffic and put into operation.
Component projects put into use include the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway, 88km long, the Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon expressway, more than 70km long, and about 20km belonging to the Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh project.
In which, the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway has a starting point adjacent to the Da Nang - Quang Ngai route at Km127+720, and an ending point connecting to the Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon project at Km1138.
Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon project and part of Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh have the route of expressway CT. 01 from Km1138+000 to Km1227+800. Starting point at Km1138+000, connecting to the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon project; ending point at Km1227+800, connecting to Cu Mong tunnel on National Highway 1.
These 3 expressway sections have a scale of 4 lanes, maximum speed 90km/h and minimum 60km/h. Initially, the route has not arranged emergency stop lanes, only technical stops along the route.
Functional agencies recommend drivers to comply with traffic signs and maintain a safe distance when traveling on the new route. During operation, contractors continue to complete the remaining items such as rest stops, smart traffic systems, automatic toll collection and warranty work.
Recorded at noon on the same day, the atmosphere at intersections leading to 3 expressways became bustling when the road was officially opened to traffic, contributing to strengthening traffic connection in the Central region.
At the highway entrances, temporary barriers are still maintained under the supervision of functional forces to regulate vehicles before the opening of the route. Workers urgently clean up materials and sanitize the road surface to ensure safe and convenient traffic conditions.
Right at the entrance to the Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon expressway, dozens of vehicles lined up waiting for traffic, creating an atmosphere of excitement on the first day of operation.
Mr. Bui Quang Duong (resident of Hanoi City) - one of the first drivers to experience the new route - shared that the expressway significantly shortens travel time. Previously, traveling on National Highway 1 with high traffic density, passing through many residential areas, a distance of 100km could take up to 3 hours. Now traveling on the expressway is only more than 1 hour, significantly reducing pressure on drivers.
Regarding operation, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Nam - Deputy Director of Road Management Zone III - said that by 11:30 am on the same day, the expressway section from Quang Ngai to Gia Lai was officially fenced off for traffic. Previously, the units had conducted a final review to ensure absolute safety.
Currently, no sudden increase in vehicles has been recorded. However, from tomorrow - the first day of the April 30th and May 1st holidays, the traffic volume on the route is forecast to increase sharply, contributing to reducing the load on National Highway 1 and shortening travel time through the Central region.
