Expanding capacity on Ha Noi-Hai Phong Expressway

Rising pressure

Fully opened to traffic in late 2015, the 105.5-km Ha Noi-Hai Phong Expressway was designed to Class A expressway standards, with six traffic lanes, two emergency stopping lanes, and a maximum speed limit of 120 km/ h.

According to the Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment JSC (VIDIFI), daily traffic volume has risen from approximately 18,000 vehicle trips in 2016 to a projected more than 74,000 in 2026, an increase of over fourfold. With its current capacity, the expressway has already experienced localized congestion, particularly during holidays, the New Year, and weekends. VIDIFI forecasts that traffic volume could reach or exceed the road's design capacity around 2028.

This situation highlights the need to increase traffic capacity before demand exceeds the infrastructure's ability to accommodate it, potentially causing prolonged congestion and affecting transport times, logistics costs, and the efficiency of road operations.

Trieu Duy Luu, Director of Trieu Pho Co., Ltd. in Truong Tan Commune, said his company operates around 40 – 50 passenger buses and 20 – 30 trucks, primarily in Hai Phong, Ha Noi, and several other northern provinces and cities. According to Luu, as transport demand continues to grow, increasing the capacity of the Ha Noi-Hai Phong Expressway deserves greater attention to meet the needs of freight and passenger transport.

Traffic pressure could increase further if the toll reduction proposed by the City People's Committee in late September takes effect and attracts heavy trucks and container trucks from National Highway 5 to the expressway. Statistics show that more than 14,000 trailer and semi-trailer truck trips use National Highway 5 each day. If some of these vehicles switch to the Ha Noi-Hai Phong Expressway, the need to study expansion from six to eight or ten lanes will become even more urgent.

Planning ahead for expansion

In response to rising traffic volumes, VIDIFI has proposed that the Ministry of Construction consider revising the expressway's master plan and expanding it from six to eight or ten lanes while retaining two emergency stopping lanes.

According to a VIDIFI representative, land clearance has already secured a 100-m-wide corridor along the entire route. Green belts on both sides of the road, averaging approximately 17 meters in width on each side, provide favorable conditions for studying expansion while limiting land acquisition costs.

Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association, said expressway expansion should be considered within the overall transport network, taking into account transport demand and connectivity between routes. Investment plans must factor in long-term traffic capacity to accommodate the growing demand for freight and passenger transport.

In addition to widening the roadway, authorities should study coordinated upgrades to interchanges, traffic management systems, lane arrangements, and operational facilities to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow.

As a major transport corridor connecting Ha Noi, Hai Phong, and other localities in the Northern Key Economic Region, the Ha Noi-Hai Phong Expressway is directly linked to freight transport, logistics, and seaport operations. It is therefore necessary to promptly study expansion options and develop an appropriate implementation roadmap and investment plan to meet development needs in the coming years.

HAI MINH