Dong Nai bridge toll station at Ho Chi Minh City gateway abandoned for over 5 years

After more than 5 years of inactivity, the Dong Nai bridge toll station on National Highway 1 has deteriorated, becoming a marketplace and a traffic hazard, yet remains undismantled.

The Dong Nai bridge toll station, a key gateway on National Highway 1 into TP HCM, has been abandoned for over 5 years, posing significant safety risks and falling into disrepair. Originally built to recover capital for investors of the new Dong Nai Bridge and its two connecting routes linking Dong Nai with TP HCM, the station ceased operations in August 2020 and was subsequently designated as public property. Despite calls for its removal, the site remains an eyesore and a hazard.

The entire project, including the new Dong Nai Bridge and its connecting routes, had a total cost of 1,877 billion VND.

Late last year, Road Management Zone IV requested the Dong Nai Bridge Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company to hand over the site before 15/1 for the dismantling of the toll station and road restoration, but the handover has not yet occurred.

A container truck U-turn point at the Dong Nai bridge toll station area poses a potential accident risk.

The neglected station now presents numerous dangers. Many milestones and reflective signs are broken or have fallen, creating traffic safety risks. Local residents report a rise in accidents, particularly at night, where motorcycles and oto collide with the concrete dividers. Furthermore, the area has become a makeshift marketplace, with individuals setting up vending spots directly at the former toll booths.

Many toll booths and utility poles are covered in thick dust, surrounded by trash. Lam, a truck driver, emphasized the urgency: "National Highway 1, a gateway to TP HCM, experiences heavy traffic, especially at night. The station needs to be dismantled soon to ensure safety for passing vehicles."

Numerous iron bars hang precariously from the station ceiling, posing a risk of falling onto vehicles at any moment.

A local uses a sofa as a vending spot right at the toll station.

A leader from Road Management Zone IV stated that while authorities have a dismantling plan, the investor has not yet handed over the site. While awaiting a resolution, the unit requires the company to ensure safety through the toll station area. In addition to this site, Dong Nai province has also proposed dismantling toll stations on National Highway 51.