Expressway shortening Hanoi - Hai Phong trip opens to traffic
A multibillion-dollar expressway that helps cut the travel time between Hanoi and the northern city of Hai Phong by one hour was officially inaugurated on December 5.
The 105km Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway allows people to go between the localities in 1.5 hours, instead of 2.5 hours, according to the developer, Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment JSC (VIDIFI).
The VND45.48 trillion (US$2.03 billion) highway, which consists of six lanes with a maximum allowed speed of 120kph, is the first of its kind in Vietnam to have a 5cm polymer concrete surface.
The expressway starts from the Hanoi’s Belt Road 3 intersection, passing through Hung Yen and Hai Duong provinces, to the Dinh Vu seaport in Hai Phong.
There are many booth tolls located along the costly expressway to recoup investment, with two biggest ones located in Hung Yen and Hai Phong, according to the developer.
The average distance-based toll fee is VND1,500 per km for standard vehicles.
The lowest full-trip toll fee is VND160,000 (US$7.15), applicable for under-12-seat cars, under-2-ton trucks, and buses, whereas the highest is VND840,000 (US$37.5), applicable for 18-ton or 40-ft trailer trucks.
The Hanoi – Hai Phogn expressway broke ground in September 2008, and a 75km section between Hai Phong and Hung Yen had earlier been opened to traffic before the inauguration of the entire highway today.