HÀ NỘI – Motorists may have to start paying toll from November 6 to use the newly completed bypass road in Phủ Lý City, in northern Hà Nam Province.

FCC Infrastructure Investment JSC, the investor, has asked the transport ministry for permission to collect toll from next month.

The company has also proposed to start a trial toll collection process from October 25, where tickets are issued for vehicles but motorists don’t have to pay.

Muôn Văn Chiến, director general of FCC JSC, said most of the work on the project was over, including the lighting system, the toll booths and equipment and software for toll collection. The project has been certified by quality assurance agencies and the road’s ready for operation, he said.

Once the road is open for traffic, electronic toll collection will begin at the same time as the manual one at Nam Cầu Giẽ toll booth.

The fee for under 12-seater vehicles and under 2-tonne trucks and buses will be VNĐ25,000 (US$1.1) per entry, VNĐ750,000 ($33.6) per month and VNĐ2.02 million ($90.4) for three months. The rate levied on 4-10 tonne trucks and 12-30-seater cars will be VNĐ40,000 ($1.8), VNĐ1.2 million ($54) and VNĐ3.24 million ($145), respectively.

The construction of the bypass in Phủ Lý city - a section of National Highway 1A - began in October 2014. Being one of the key national infrastructure projects, it saw a total investment of over VNĐ2.04 trillion (US$91.6 million) under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) formula and was expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The project has been completed five months ahead of schedule, thanks to the efficiency of the local authorities in clearing the site and the effort made by the contractors.

The 23.3-km-long Phủ Lý bypass is expected to reduce traffic congestion on National Highway 1A and offer a smooth connection between Hà Nam Province and its neighbours. It has four lanes for motorised vehicles, which can travel at the standard speed of 80km per hour. — VNS