​Major northern expressway loses gear a week after opening

An area on Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway where cable has been cut and stolen, September 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Do Phuong

The project investor, Van Don Infrastructure Investment and Development Co Ltd of Sun Group, said the incident was detected right after the expressway, which runs more than 80 kilometers (50 miles) across northern Quang Ninh Province to connect Van Don Economic Zone and Mong Cai Town bordering China, was inaugurated on the afternoon of Sept. 1.

As the only expressway equipped with a lighting system along the entire route, Van Don – Mong Cai Expressway had lost power on the night of opening.

Pham Dinh Vinh, a representative of the contractor, said: "As reviewed, many pillars have been dug, with cables, printed circuit boards and circuit breakers inside stolen."

So far, it has been confirmed that the expressway has lost 3,000 meters of cable.

With the lighting apparatus along the expressway built as a "smart, continuous and seamless electrical system," the loss of some electrical equipment makes the entire route lose power.

A part of Van Don - Mong Cai Expressway with the light on, August 17, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

The investor has reported to the police and an investigation is underway.

Cutting the time to travel from Van Don Economic Zone to Mong Cai Border Gate to 50 minutes from two hours, Van Don – Mong Cai connects with two other existing expressway sections in Quang Ninh, Bach Dang - Dai Yen (25 kilometers) and Ha Long - Van Don (71.2 kilometers) to create a 176-kilometer expressway section running through Quang Ninh to link Ha Long Bay with the Chinese border at Mong Cai.

The entire 176 kilometers will then connect to the 300-kilometer Hanoi – Ha Long Expressway and 264-kilometer Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway to become the longest such route in the country.