The Vietnam Road Administration (VRA) recently instructed Cienco 4 Group, the BOT Vinh bypass branch, and Road Management Area II to take action against the investor regarding maintenance of the Vinh bypass project and National Highway 1 (NH1) section from the South Ben Thuy Bridge to the North Ha Tinh City bypass (old).

According to the VRA, the agency has repeatedly urged the investor and project enterprise to manage and maintain the infrastructure to meet technical requirements. However, the investor's repair and maintenance efforts have either been insufficient or not implemented at all.

National Highway 1 in Ha Tinh province showed extensive wheel rutting in 9/2026. Photo: Duc Hung

National Highway 1 in Ha Tinh province showed extensive wheel rutting in 9/2026. Photo: Duc Hung

Inspections revealed significant structural damage, surface peeling, grid cracking, turtleback cracking, and wheel rutting on many sections of National Highway 1 from the South Ben Thuy Bridge to the North Ha Tinh City bypass (old), posing a risk to traffic safety.

Based on the on-site inspection results from 8/9 and the terms of the contract and its addendum, the VRA has ordered Cienco 4 and the BOT Vinh bypass branch to urgently repair all damaged sections and rectify maintenance quality violations to ensure structural and traffic safety before 10/10.

If Cienco 4 and the BOT Vinh bypass branch fail to complete or adequately address the issues by the specified deadline, the VRA will suspend toll collection as per its authority, starting from 15/10.

Road Management Area II is required to supervise and expedite repairs, report weekly results, and penalize violations according to regulations.

A representative from the BOT Vinh bypass branch stated that the unit is currently repairing the damaged road sections through major overhaul projects as requested by the VRA, while also conducting regular maintenance to ensure traffic safety.

The Ben Thuy toll station is located in Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province. Photo: Duc Hung

The Ben Thuy toll station is located in Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province. Photo: Duc Hung

The project to expand National Highway 1 from South Ben Thuy to the Ha Tinh bypass was developed by Cienco 4 as the investor, with a total cost exceeding 2,430 billion VND, and was completed in 2014. The BOT Vinh bypass branch, a subsidiary, is authorized to collect tolls at Ben Thuy one and two stations, situated at the border between Truong Vinh ward (Nghe An) and Nghi Xuan commune (Ha Tinh), to recover investment capital. Toll fees for oto range from 40,000 to 200,000 VND.

Previously, in 9/2023, Road Management Area II had also instructed the investor to promptly address damaged areas on National Highway 1 in Ha Tinh province, threatening to propose a suspension of toll collection at the Ben Thuy station if delays occurred. Cienco 4 subsequently carried out the repairs.

Duc Hung