In response to PV VTC News, the leader of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, the investor of the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway project, acknowledges the existing shortcomings and deficiencies on this expressway such as: the expressway only has 2 lanes; there are some bottleneck sections; almost no high-voltage lighting system alongside the road, no surveillance camera system…
Further explaining this project, the leader shared that the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway is invested in two phases. In which, phase 1 is invested to construct 2 lanes with a capital of over 7,700 billion VND.
According to the design, on the 98km long route, there are 28 overtaking spots and these spots are built with 4 lanes. Besides, there are many points on the route where broken lines are arranged so that drivers can overtake while ensuring safety. The ending overtaking spots, from observation, seem a bit curvy, but before the investment, the units have approved the design plan.
Since the end of 2023, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board to propose expanding to 4 lanes. “By 2025, all sections of the northern expressways up to Cam Lo will have 4 lanes. The Cam Lo – La Son route also has a policy to expand to 4 lanes… Only this section is currently being studied and it will take about 1 more month to complete the dossier, propose the policy for expansion,” the leader informed.
The scene of a serious accident on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway on February 18.
According to this person, when studying the expansion of the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway to 4 complete lanes, lighting systems, lighting cameras, etc. will be put into use.
When PV VTC News asked why these items were not equipped beforehand to ensure safety, the leader of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board explained, “This is a phased investment project, also due to limited resources, so only 2 lanes are arranged.”
Previously, the Ministry of Transport stated that many developed countries such as the United States, South Korea, Japan all have to implement phased investments for expressways. Therefore, based on the experience of these countries, the Ministry has studied and reported to competent authorities to implement phased investments according to principles to ensure meeting requirements in the context of limited resources, but also creating premises and convenience in the later stage when there are resources to upgrade.
On December 18, 2023, two trailer trucks collided head-on, causing one fatality on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway.
Around 10 am on February 18, Mr. Phan Dinh Kieu (born in 1969, residing in Kon Tum City, Kon Tum Province) was driving car with license plate 36A-485.67 on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway, heading from Da Nang to Quang Tri. In the car, there were Mr. Phan Dinh Q (born in 1978), Mr. Q’s wife, Ms. Le Thi H (born in 1983), and their two children, K.V (born in 2009), and D.Q (born in 2015), all residing in Tan Cong Ward, Dong Tan City, Thanh Hoa Province.
When reaching Km 48+200m on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway section passing through Phong Dien District, the sedan overtook from the right side, then collided with the trailer truck with license plate 63C-136.59 towing the semi-trailer with license plate 63R-00227 driven by Mr. Huynh Van Dung (born in 1974, residing in Long An Commune, Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang Province), traveling in the same direction and the same lane.
After the collision, the car with license plate 36A-485.67 crossed to the opposite lane heading from Quang Tri to Da Nang, colliding with the truck with license plate 63H-005.68 driven by Mr. Lam Van Tam (born in 1982, residing in Vinh My Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province) and which carried Mr. Nguyen Minh Khai (born in 1980, residing in My Tho City, Tien Giang Province) on the opposite lane heading from Quang Tri to Da Nang.
Then, the car with license plate 36A-485.67 continued to plunge down the ravine on the right side of the one-way lane heading from Quang Tri to Da Nang. At the same time, the car with license plate 63H-005.68 was hit by the trailer truck with license plate 51D-150.90 towing the semi-trailer with license plate 51R-349.20 driven by Mr. Nguyen Tan Dat (born in 1980, residing in Pho Minh Ward, Duc Pho Town, Quang Ngai Province), also traveling in the same direction and in the same lane heading from Quang Tri to Da Nang.
As a result, Mr. Phan Dinh Q died at the scene, and K.V. and Ms. Le Thi H. were taken to Hue Central Hospital for treatment but did not survive. The Thua Thien Hue Provincial Police have initiated criminal proceedings and commenced prosecution against Mr. Phan Dinh Kieu.
