The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam is considering a plan to prohibit passenger vehicles with over 30 seats and heavy trucks with 6 or more axles from using the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway. These vehicles would be redirected to National Highway 1 to alleviate traffic volume. This proposal was discussed during a meeting with the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Traffic Police Department, and relevant agencies on March 27th.
Why Reroute Single-Axle Heavy Trucks?
According to research from a consulting unit, the traffic volume on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway has reached overload levels, while National Highway 1 still has the capacity to accommodate more vehicles. Rerouting single-axle heavy trucks and other vehicle types to National Highway 1 is considered a necessary solution to regulate traffic and reduce pressure on the expressway. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Director of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, agreed with this proposal but requested final opinions from relevant units before making an official decision.
Traffic Volume Assessment and Proposed Solutions
From March 15th to 17th, the Truong Son consulting unit conducted vehicle counts on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway. The results showed an average volume of approximately 4,216 vehicles per day and night, with heavy vehicles (tractor-trailers and large passenger buses) accounting for nearly 50%. This traffic volume indicates that the expressway has reached its overload threshold.
Conversely, National Highway 1, which runs parallel to the expressway, only has a traffic volume of about 17,278 vehicles per day and night, with heavy trucks accounting for only 37%. It is estimated that National Highway 1 can still accommodate an additional 6,000 passenger car units (PCU) per day and night.
Based on these figures, the consulting unit proposed several options for rerouting single-axle heavy trucks and other vehicle types, including:
- Prohibiting passenger vehicles with over 30 seats, tractor-trailers, and heavy trucks with over 4 axles.
- Prohibiting passenger vehicles with over 30 seats, tractor-trailers, and heavy trucks with over 5 axles.
- Prohibiting passenger vehicles with over 30 seats, tractor-trailers, and heavy trucks with over 6 axles (total weight over 30 tons).
- Prohibiting tractor-trailers and heavy trucks with over 6 axles.
Optimal Solution and Benefits
The consulting unit proposed the option of prohibiting passenger vehicles with over 30 seats and heavy trucks with 6 or more axles. This option is considered optimal as it significantly reduces the load on the expressway (approximately 3,477 PCU/day and night) while still ensuring traffic flow on National Highway 1. The addition of traffic signs at intersections is also proposed to guide vehicles.
Issues with Large Trucks on the Expressway
In addition to traffic volume, large trucks also cause several operational issues on the expressway. Due to the mountainous terrain with many passes and fog, large trucks often travel below the minimum speed (35-40km/h, while the minimum speed limit is 60km/h), causing congestion and hazards for other vehicles.
The emergency stopping lane on the expressway is only 2 meters wide, which is insufficient for large trucks to stop without obstructing the traffic lane, posing a potential risk of accidents. Therefore, limiting large trucks is seen as a necessary solution to improve traffic capacity and reduce accidents.
Conclusion
Rerouting single-axle heavy trucks and other heavy vehicles to National Highway 1 is a feasible solution to reduce the load on the Cam Lo – La Son Expressway, enhance traffic safety, and improve the operational efficiency of the route. The final decision will be made by the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam after considering feedback from all relevant parties.
Source: VTC News
