Introduction
Following a serious incident on the North-South Expressway in the Eastern section, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh signed a directive requiring relevant agencies and units to strengthen inspection and repair efforts for infrastructure defects. This incident has significantly impacted traffic flow and posed safety risks to the public.
Main Content
1. Enhanced Inspection and Repair Efforts
Minister Tran Hong Minh has instructed the Vietnam Highway Administration and the Vietnam Expressway Administration to enhance inspections and supervision of entities responsible for maintaining expressway systems. These units must promptly direct related organizations to repair and address any structural damages, ensuring normal operation of expressways and compliance with current regulations.
Minister of Transport issues directive after expansion joint failure on expressway – 1*Expansion joint failure on expressway (Photo: Provided by source)Failed expansion joint on the highway (Image: Provided)
For expressways currently under warranty, the Minister requires the Vietnam Highway Administration and the Vietnam Expressway Administration to promptly request project sponsors to organize repairs and address any defects within the contractor’s warranty responsibility. This ensures adherence to the project’s technical standards.
2. Regular and Unannounced Inspections
For expressway projects funded by state budget resources, the Minister directs project sponsors to intensify both regular and unannounced inspections during the warranty period. This helps identify quality issues promptly and demands contractors to rectify them according to contract specifications.
Before initiating repairs or fixes, project sponsors must approve the proposed solutions, ensuring they meet project technical standards and traffic and labor safety measures.
3. Quality Control and Safety Monitoring
Throughout the repair and remediation process, related units must oversee the quality of work and monitor traffic and labor safety. They should also closely collaborate with operational management units during the warranty period.
4. Current Condition of Expressway Damage
Several sections of the North-South Expressway in the Eastern section have been operational since June 2024 and are currently under warranty (24 months from the date of handover). During this period, some potential safety hazards have emerged.
On February 6, at Km341+182 of the North-South Expressway in the Eastern section, a 2-meter-long expansion joint on M1 abutment was found to have lifted its teeth-shaped steel plates, causing damage to several vehicles. The maintenance contractor temporarily fixed the issue using hot-mix asphalt to ensure smooth traffic flow, completing the repair by 7 PM on February 6.
Conclusion
Strengthening inspection and repair efforts for structural defects on expressways is crucial to ensure traffic quality and safety. Relevant agencies and units must cooperate closely and strictly adhere to the Minister’s directives to prevent future incidents. Citizens should also comply with traffic safety regulations and report any issues promptly for timely resolution.
References
- Dantri.com.vn. (2025). Minister of Transport issues directive after expansion joint failure on expressway. [Online]. Available at: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/bo-truong-gtvt-ra-cong-dien-sau-vu-bung-khe-co-gian-tren-duong-cao-toc-20250209114749452.htm
