Rest stops are places to promote “delicious and strange local specialties”
Recently, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang had a field trip to inspect the North-South expressway projects along the Central region and the Mekong Delta. These sections include: Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon, Hoai Nhon-Quy Nhon, Quy Nhon-Chi Thanh, Chi Thanh-Van Phong, Van Phong-Nha Trang and the Can Tho-Hau Giang, Hau Giang-Ca Mau projects.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang surveyed the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon expressway and requested that the related entities make greater efforts to complete the project by the end of 2025.
At the inspection points, Minister Nguyen Van Thang reiterated the continuous guiding principle of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh that “wherever the transport development reaches, it will open up new development spaces, many urban areas, industrial zones, services, and tourism areas will be formed”.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that the North-South expressway will be a major transportation route with a large volume of vehicles. Therefore, construction units need to enhance their sense of responsibility towards their work, innovate their thinking and ways of doing things, with the highest political determination to achieve the project goals in 2025 and soon connect the expressway system from the North to the South.
The Minister emphasized that although the projects have made good progress, they need to be completed in a coordinated manner because the road infrastructure is not just about completing the hardware, but also about completing the software, such as intelligent traffic management systems, rest stops…
Deputy Chairman of the Deo ca Group’s Board of Directors, Nguyen Tan Dong, reports to Minister Nguyen Van Thang and the delegation about the organization of construction using a new tunneling method, contributing to increased production.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang admitted that if the development of rest stops is delayed, it will lead to the problem of vehicles stopping on the expressway, which poses risks to traffic safety, aesthetics, and the environment. Rest stops need not only meet the standards but also strive to exceed them, in terms of scale and convenience. Localities need to get involved and support timely implementation.
“Absolutely cannot let the expressway be completed without rest stops . Rest stops on the expressway will limit vehicles parking on the side of the road, which can cause accidents and harm the aesthetics and environmental pollution. We must completely overcome the existing problems of the projects implemented before 2020.
The Phase 2 expressways that commence in 2023 must be synchronized; better quality, artistry, and technique; the hard infrastructure must come with software to organize intelligent traffic and ensure the complete connection of the entire route in 2025,” Minister Nguyen Van Thang instructed.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang believes that rest stops will be places to promote local products. Passengers traveling from the North to the South will stop by the rest stops and buy “delicious and strange” local products, also known as specialties of a region.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang emphasized that for Phase 2 of the North-South expressway projects, it is absolutely necessary not to have a situation where the roads are completed without rest stops.
“Buyers are satisfied, sellers are also happy, and local products are delivered to consumers through the rest stops. Rest stops not only meet standards but also strive to exceed them, in terms of scale and convenience. Localities need to get involved and support timely implementation,” Minister Nguyen Van Thang said.
Giving a “thousand likes” for the determination of the Minister
In recent years, the transport sector has achieved many things, including the high-speed road system, which provides more favorable conditions for transportation and is recognized by the people and drivers. However, there are still some items that need to be supplemented and completed in order for the expressways to achieve higher quality and safety. One of them is the lack of rest stops on the expressways.
Minister Nguyen Van Thang believes that rest stops will be places to promote local products. Passengers traveling from the North to the South will stop by the rest stops and buy “delicious and strange” local products, known as specialties of a region.
The Mai Son-QL45; QL45-Nghi Son expressways, nearly 100km long; the La Son-Tuy Loan expressway, which is over 100km long; the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay expressways, which are nearly 200km long, do not have rest stops, which has posed safety risks when drivers stop randomly for passengers to use the restroom. This has been reported by the media and caused public indignation. Therefore, it is impossible for future expressways to be without rest stops.
Mr. Tran Duy Cuong from Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, said that he regularly travels from the North to the South and recently there have been some expressway sections that have been accessible but without rest stops, which is very inconvenient. Stopping on the road is not allowed, as it is unsafe for traffic, but if not stopping, there is nowhere to use the restroom, as it is a very practical need.
Many vehicles have to “squeeze” into some positions at gas stations on the Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway rest stop. Photo by Hoang Anh.
“Only those who have traveled on this expressway understand the urgency. Rest stops are essential for ensuring the safety of vehicles, drivers, and passengers. With rest stops, drivers and passengers can take a break, rest and recover their health, and vehicles can have their fuel and tires checked, ensuring overall safety. This is a story about planning vision. Coordinated construction of rest stops with the expressways will create safe facilities for road users when put into operation,” Mr. Duc expressed his opinion.
After listening to Minister Nguyen Van Thang’s commitment that all Phase 2 expressways will have adequate rest stops, driver Vu Nam Chung has great confidence in this statement and suggests that the Ministry of Transport needs to supplement and urgently address the issue of rest stops on the expressways.
“I will give the Minister a ‘thousand likes’ for his statement. Drivers and passengers need rest and restroom breaks when traveling on the expressway. Rest stops need to be implemented right away, and roads should be closely linked to the rest stops. When the rest stops meet the needs of passengers, they will increase revenue for the expressways and help promote the local specialties of the areas where the rest stops are located. Please don’t delay the construction progress and postpone the completion time like many other transportation projects, while people still commute on these expressways every day,” Mr. Chung said.
Some proposed solutions include implementing temporary rest areas when there is not enough funds for constructing rest stops. These rest areas do not need gas stations, only restrooms, trees, selling beverages, and seating for resting and enjoying the view. Some countries have implemented this model, which is fast and cost-effective, meeting the needs of people traveling on the expressway.
