Piloting non-stop toll collection without barriers on 2 Northern expressways

The Vietnam Road Administration has just reported to the Ministry of Transport to pilot the design model of a non-stop electronic toll collection system (ETC) for two North-South expressway component projects, Nha Trang - Cam Lam and Cam Lam - Vinh Hao sections, according to the model of free multi-lane ETC input (no barrier), single-lane ETC output (with barrier) and no mixed toll lane.

In addition, at the junction between the two expressway projects, gantry cranes will be installed to separate toll collection between sections, serving reconciliation and post-inspection when organizing closed toll collection across the entire expressway.

Specifically, the Nha Trang - Cam Lam section will have 4 toll stations on the branch line and 1 gantry at Km53+600. Of which, 4 toll stations Dien Khanh, Suoi Dau, Cam Lam, Cam Ranh on the branch line are designed with a single-lane free ETC input model (one lane, no barrier), and a single-lane ETC output model (2 lanes, with barrier).

Regarding the addition and installation of gantry cranes on the main route at Km6+700 to connect with the Van Phong - Nha Trang expressway project, the Vietnam Road Administration said that this addition has not yet had an immediate impact on the toll collection organization of the Nha Trang - Cam Lam project. The Administration has requested relevant units to continue studying the location, scale, and organization plan to ensure suitability, and be ready to switch when the Van Phong - Nha Trang project organizes toll collection.

The Cam Lam - Vinh Hao expressway model will have 3 toll stations at intersections and an additional temporary toll station at the end of the route; in which the Du Long intersection toll station and 2 Phan Rang intersection toll stations are designed with a free multi-lane ETC input toll collection model (2 lanes, no barrier), single-lane ETC output (2 lanes, with barrier).

Event - Piloting non-stop toll collection without barriers on 2 North-South expressways — The non-stop toll collection model for the two expressways Nha Trang - Cam Lam and Cam Lam - Vinh Hao will have no input barriers and will be maintained at the output.

The temporary toll station at the end of the route is temporarily designed with a free multi-lane ETC input (2 lanes, no barrier), a single-lane ETC output (2 lanes, with barrier) along with a temporary traffic organization design solution, ensuring readiness for dismantling, relocation, and saving investment costs when the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet section organizes toll collection.

The gantry price with equipment system at Km53+600 (within the scope of Nha Trang - Cam Lam project) according to the free multi-lane model, without barriers to pilot the separation of toll collection between sections, serving the reconciliation and post-inspection when organizing closed toll collection on the entire expressway will also be installed.

To ensure the pilot work with the toll collection model, the Vietnam Road Administration has requested investors, toll collection operators, intelligent transport system (ITS) operators, and service providers to coordinate in developing pilot implementation plans, operating procedures, incident handling procedures; reconciliation and coordination regulations between parties to ensure close and harmonious interests and readiness to handle situations during the pilot operation.

In the draft highway design standards being consulted, the Ministry of Transport also proposed a highway toll collection system that requires automatic non-stop toll collection. In the case of closed toll collection, at the entrance points of the highway, a free multi-lane automatic toll collection system without barriers will be arranged, and at the exit points, a single-lane toll collection system with barriers or free multi-lane will be arranged.

The Ministry of Transport's ETC toll collection system implementation roadmap is expected to go through 3 phases: Phase 1, implemented from 2016-2023, toll stations still have barriers, accounts have enough money, new barriers open.

Phase 2 will be implemented from 2024-2025, with no more barriers and single-lane vehicles freely passing through toll stations.

Phase 3 from 2026 onwards, at the toll station only the gantry price with the toll collection device mounted above will be maintained. Multi-lane vehicles freely circulate through the toll station .

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