The number of traffic accidents on the newly-built Hà Nội-Bắc Giang Expressway has increased, northern Bắc Giang Province People’s Committee announced, blaming a shortage of frontage roads for two-wheeled vehicles. — Photo cand.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The number of traffic accidents on the newly-built Hà Nội-Bắc Giang Expressway has increased, northern Bắc Giang Province People’s Committee announced, blaming a shortage of frontage roads for two-wheeled vehicles.

In the document sent to the Ministry of Transport, the committee said that between May 25 and June 25, 14 traffic accidents occurred, killing three people and leaving 13 others injured.

The number of accidents increased by eight compared to that of last month.

The provincial Traffic Safety Committee said that allowing two-wheeled vehicles to run on the expressway with cars driving 100kph was the main problem.

At crossing points between the express road and local roads, many passenger buses were seen recklessly picking up passengers, causing traffic chaos.

Reporters observed a high density of vehicles on parts of the road. On seven bridges along the expressway, there were no barriers between vehicles and pedestrians.

Lê Ngọc Tuyển, director of the provincial Department of Transport said that any expressway must have frontage roads for two-wheeled vehicles.

When the Hà Nội-Bắc Giang Expressway was put into use in early January, the investor had planned to provide a lane for motorbikes. This lane would connect with additional roads to National Highway 1 instead of running on the same road as cars. However, few drivers used the additional road as it took longer than using the expressway.

Several industrial zones such as Từ Sơn and Tiên Du are located along the expressway. If motorbikes were banned on the road, workers would find it hard to get to work.

To ensure traffic safety, the department asked the investor to reduce the speed limit to 80kph, but received no replies, he said.

The 46km Hà Nội-Bắc Giang expressway was built under a BOT (build-operate-transfer) model for a total investment of VNĐ4.2 trillion (US$197.4 million). The 45km-long highway has a speed limit of 100kph.

The expressway project was expected handle increased traffic between Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh Province and Bắc Giang Province and reduce accidents and traffic congestion on National Highway 1. — VNS