According to Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the section from Hanoi to Ha Tinh has 2 fully equipped stations and 4 temporary stations with an average distance of 60 - 70km/station, while the section from Ho Chi Minh City to Khanh Hoa has 1 fully equipped station and 5 temporary stations with an average distance of 60 - 70km/station.

Regarding rest stops, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Expressway Administration Nguyen Quang Giang said that currently, on the North-South Expressway, the Administration has signed contracts with investors for 8 rest stops, including the component projects Mai Son-National Highway 45, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, Dien Chau-Bai Vot, Nha Trang-Cam Lam, Cam Lam-Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet (2 stations) and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay.

The section from Hanoi to Ha Tinh has 2 fully equipped rest stops to serve people during the 2025 Lunar New Year and 4 temporary stations with an average distance of 60-70km/station. Illustration photo: Government Newspaper.

Up to now, 2 stations have been and are under construction, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet (station Km205+092), Phan Thiet - Dau Giay, to meet the progress of completing part of the essential works for temporary exploitation to serve the Lunar New Year.

Regarding the site, 3 stations have handed over the site, basically meeting the conditions for implementation, 2 stations have partially handed over the site, and the remaining 3 stations have not been handed over.

The 4 rest stops were won by the Petrolimex Joint Venture, the investor is implementing internal procedures (design approval, contractor selection, etc.) to promote construction. The remaining two stations (Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet at km 144+560 and Cam Lam – Vinh Hao) were won by the Futabuslines – Thanh Hiep Phat Joint Venture, the investor is also implementing internal procedures.

According to the Deputy Director of the Vietnam Expressway Administration, although the contract with the investors was signed in August 2024, the progress of the rest stops is being delayed due to difficulties in site clearance. Therefore, it is expected that the investors will be able to start construction in the first quarter of this year.

The Vietnam Expressway Administration has also requested investors to shorten the construction schedule and focus on completing areas such as toilets and parking lots to serve people right from the beginning. Along with that, project management boards are also urgently clearing the land to ensure the overall progress of the project.

For the stations to be taken over, the Department requires investors to receive opinions from the Road Management Department, the Traffic Police Department and related units to supplement the traffic safety system, enhance environmental sanitation, etc. Of which, 5/6 temporary stations have been and are being exploited, 1 station is completing the remaining items and basically meets the completion schedule, put into use before January 23.

Some temporary stations were implemented by project management boards before April 30, 2024, but due to not meeting requirements and posing potential risks to traffic safety, they had to stop operating, such as: Temporary stations at Truong Vinh tunnel entrance, Than Vu tunnel entrance (northern area) and temporary works at Km199 (off-route) of Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet project in the southern area...

Loc Lien