On February 2, severe traffic congestion occurred on the South Hai Van Bypass in Da Nang City, specifically at its intersection with extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street. Numerous cars formed long queues, moving slowly from north to south.
Traffic Conditions at Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan Expressway Construction Site
The over 11km-long South Hai Van Bypass is currently undergoing construction for the Tuy Loan – Hoa Lien Expressway project, part of the Eastern North-South Expressway. In several sections, the construction unit has laid crushed stone, forcing vehicles to significantly reduce their speed. Particularly challenging is the intersection with extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, where an overpass is being built, and the service road is limited to only two lanes, making traffic flow even more difficult.
Dust from the construction site is also a major issue, especially during peak traffic hours. The thick dust significantly reduces drivers’ visibility, posing a risk to traffic safety. Driver Nguyen Huu Nhan (residing in Hue City) shared that he encountered many difficulties traversing this section, sometimes even driving at just 10km/h. Many other drivers opted to turn onto Road DH2 to avoid the poor road conditions.
The Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan Expressway project is designed for six lanes, but the initial phase will complete four lanes. The project commenced in August 2023 and is expected to be finished by August of next year. However, the ongoing construction process is still significantly impacting traffic in the area.
Prolonged Congestion at Hai Van Pass Summit
On the same day, Hai Van Pass also experienced severe congestion as thousands of residents from northern provinces traveled by motorbikes and cars to return to Da Nang City after the Tet holiday. The majority of those traversing the pass were students and workers from Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, returning to Da Nang for studies and work. Conversely, many students from Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Da Nang also chose to cross the pass to reach Hue City.
Around 11 AM, the summit area of Hai Van Pass was severely jammed with vehicles, stretching for over 1km before the Hai Van Quan relic site. Hai Van Pass is 20km long, situated on the border between Da Nang and Hue, cutting across the Bach Ma mountain range at an altitude of approximately 500m above sea level. To alleviate traffic pressure, residents can opt to travel through the Hai Van Tunnel instead of crossing the pass.
Solutions and Recommendations
The traffic congestion at the Hoa Lien – Tuy Loan Expressway construction site and Hai Van Pass not only causes inconvenience for residents but also poses potential accident risks. Authorities need to accelerate construction progress while simultaneously enhancing traffic safety measures, such as installing warning signs, deploying traffic controllers, and managing dust.
For residents, choosing appropriate routes and regularly updating traffic information will help minimize travel time. Furthermore, using the Hai Van Tunnel instead of crossing the pass is an effective solution during peak hours.
Improving traffic infrastructure and raising awareness among road users will contribute to alleviating pressure and creating more favorable conditions for inter-provincial travel.
Source: Dan Tri
