Vehicles on North-South Expressway. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Transport plans to raise the operating speed on certain 4-lane expressways to 90km per hour. 

The Department for Roads of Việt Nam (DRVN), the Việt Nam Highway Department, Construction Investment Management Department, and Project Management Units (PMUs) of Hồ Chí Minh, Mỹ Thuận 2, 6 and 85, and Thăng Long highways have been instructed to examine the technical aspects of these divergent highways, currently designed for 80km per hour, and modify them for 90km per hour. 

According to the Ministry of Transport's report, several 4-lane expressways, featuring intermittent emergency stopping lanes, operate at a maximum of 80km per hour. 

In June of the previous year, DRVN established and publicised Highway Basic Standards for Design and Traffic Organisation applicable during construction investment phases. These standards allow the divergent highways of Hồ Chí Minh, Mỹ Thuận 2, 6 and 85, and Thăng Long to function at speeds up to 90km per hour.

DRVN has been tasked with advising investors on adjusting traffic organisation plans and implementing necessary technical solutions, such as traffic signage and lane markings, to accommodate the increased operating speeds.

PMUs must work with DRVN to deliver test results and assessment reports, review, and propose recommendations for the projects they oversee. They must also instruct contractors to modify and enhance project components based on the suggestions from the Ministry of Transport and DRVN to ensure safe traffic conditions at higher speeds.

The examination of technical elements for the speed increase must be completed and reported to the ministry by 31 December. The implementation of the increased vehicle speed is scheduled for next year.

Currently, highway speed limits are set at 120km, 100km, 80km, and 60km per hour, based on specific technical factors. VNS