Proposal for Long Thanh interchange operation plan asked to be finalized on June 3

On June 2, Dong Nai City Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Ho Van Ha chaired a working session with relevant agencies to review traffic organization plans and preparations for putting the Long Thanh interchange into operation — the junction connecting the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway and the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway.

Member of Đồng Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the  City People’s Committee Ho Van Ha speaks at the working session. Photo: Pham Tung

At the meeting, a representative from the Department of Construction reported that three ramps at the Long Thanh interchange are currently ready for traffic operation. These include the ramp from Ho Chi Minh City with a right turntoward Vung Tau; the ramp from Vung Tau with a left turn onto the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway toward Ho Chi Minh City; and the ramp from Bien Hoa with a right turn toward Dau Giay. The remaining ramps have not yet met conditions for operation.

The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) stated that toll collection systems at the interchange have been completed and are ready for operation once the interchange is opened to traffic. However, the corporation requested Project Management Unit 85 to complete additional traffic signage to ensure compliance with regulations.

Meanwhile, Colonel Pham Quang Huy, Deputy Director of the Traffic Police Department (C08) under the Ministry of Public Security, said multiple field inspections had identified two arrow-shaped conflict points at the interchange, where straight-moving vehicles intersect with vehicles entering and exiting expressways, particularly on movementsfrom Bien Hoa toward Ho Chi Minh City and from National Highway 51 onto the interchange toward Vung Tau. According to Colonel Huy, the conflict point involving vehicles moving from National Highway 51 toward Vung Tau currently experiences relatively low traffic volume and mainly poses congestion risks rather than accident risks. However, the conflict point involving vehicles traveling from Bien Hoa toward Ho Chi Minh City carries significantly heavier traffic volumes and presents a higher risk of traffic accidents.

Based on current conditions at the Long Thanh interchange, C08 proposed four traffic organization scenarios for operating the interchange.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Ho Van Ha requested Project Management Unit 85 to complete the installation of additional traffic signage as requested by VEC before 7 p.m. on June 3.

Colonel Pham Quang Huy, Deputy Director of C08, presents assessments on the current status of the Long Thanh interchange. Photo: Pham Tung

Project Management Unit 85 was also assigned to lead and coordinate with related agencies to finalize a proposed operation plan for the Long Thanh interchange based on C08 recommendations before 10 a.m. on June 3. Following that, the selected proposal will be submitted to C08 for comments, while Project Management Unit 85 and the Department of Construction will forward the proposal to the Dong Nai City People's Committee  for reporting to the Ministry of Construction.

Since May 18, more than 54 kilometers of the main route of Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway have officially been opened to traffic. However, only Branch 2 and the T2 route of the Long Thanh interchange are currently operational, leaving traffic movements still subject to several limitations.

As a result, vehicles traveling from Bien Hoa, Trang Bom, or former Binh Duong areas onto the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway can currently access the route only through the Vo Nguyen Giap interchange and may exit at either Interchange 992 or National Highway 56, but cannot yet exit at Long Thanh.

Meanwhile, vehicles heading from Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh, or Nhon Trach onto the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway through Branch 2 on T2Road are currently limited to the Vung Tau-bound direction and cannot yet continue toward Bien Hoa. Vehicles moving from Dau Giay wishing to access the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway must still exit onto National Highway 51 and then make a U-turn, as direct access remains unavailable.

By Pham Tung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha