Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

By Quynh Tran   July 31, 2022 | 05:00 am PT
Days since the electronic toll collection (ETC) system was applied, the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway has been experiencing severe traffic congestion.
Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

Only Saturday five days since investor Vietnam Expressway Corporation put the ETC system into use, traffic became congested in both directions.

While authorities blamed the gridlock on many cars stopping in the emergency lane to get the ETC card, it could be seen that many cars still had to pay with cash after the card failed to work.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

The expressway section near Long Thanh Bridge crossing the Xoai Rap River, a tributary of the Dong Nai River and the Long Phuoc toll gate, saw the heaviest congestion.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

It took drivers more than 15 minutes to get through a section of less than 2 km from the Long Thanh Bridge to the Long Phuoc toll gate.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

Long lines of cars and trucks going from Dong Nai to HCMC lined up at the toll gates.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

An ambulance is among the vehicles stuck in a long line inching forward or not moving at all.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

A driver leans out to check the gridlock.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

"Normally it takes me no more than an hour and a half to travel from Dong Nai to HCMC, but it has been more than three hours and I have not even reached the city," said driver Nguyen Van Trung, 33.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

Cars stopped in an emergency lane to get the ETC card. The HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay is the first expressway in southern Vietnam to apply the ETC system.

Vietnam will have all expressways use the ETC system starting Aug. 1.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

A driver pays the toll fee with cash. There were several toll gates along the expressway that remained open to have staff collect toll fees in person in case the ETC card did not work.

Electronic toll collection jams HCMC-Dong Nai expressway

The 55km, four-lane HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway cost VND20.6 trillion ($882.6 million) to build.

It was used by 45,000-50,000 vehicles daily in 2019, often causing gridlocks in certain sections since its designed daily capacity is around 44,000 vehicles.

According to an approved plan, the expressway will be expanded to eight lanes to catch up with increasing travel demand once the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province, set to be the country’s largest airport, begins operations.

 
 
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