Around 10 PM on 2/9, a torrent of water carrying sand suddenly poured onto the southbound lane of the expressway, creating a half-meter thick layer that completely blocked the road. Traffic police and highway patrol officers set up warnings and closed the Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City route at the Ma Lam intersection.
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The expressway management unit organized forces to clear sand on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, late at night on 2/9. Photo: Nguyen Tu |
The expressway management unit organized forces to clear sand on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, late at night on 2/9. Photo: Nguyen Tu
Vehicles coming from Phan Rang were diverted onto National Highway 28, rejoining the expressway at the Ba Bau intersection (Ham Thuan Nam) to avoid congestion.
The expressway management unit, Thanh Nam Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company, mobilized forces to block the water flow and clear the sand. By 1:15 AM, traffic resumed after being paralyzed for more than three hours.
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Traffic police temporarily closed the expressway at the Ma Lam intersection, in the middle of the night. Photo: Nguyen Tu |
Traffic police temporarily closed the expressway at the Ma Lam intersection, in the middle of the night. Photo: Nguyen Tu
Initial reports indicate the sand didn't come from a landslide but from a large stockpile above the residential area. Authorities are investigating the cause.
The over 100-km Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, opened in 5/2023, is a section of the North-South Expressway's eastern route. The four-lane expressway, with a maximum speed of 90 km/h, will be expanded to six lanes with a design speed of 120 km/h. This crucial transport link connects the South Central Coast with the Southeast region, shortening travel times from Phan Thiet to Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Viet Quoc
