On October 18, a representative of the BOT branch of the Vinh City bypass in Nghe An acknowledged that major repairs on the Vinh bypass and upgrades to National Highway 1A from Ben Thuy Bridge to the former Ha Tinh bypass had not met requirements.
For this reason, the Vietnam Road Administration ordered toll collection to be temporarily suspended at the Ben Thuy and Ben Thuy 2 BOT stations from 00:00 on October 20 for 30 days.
The company said the delay was linked to legal procedures, surveys, an assessment of the road's condition and approval of a technical plan under the BOT contract. The major overhaul requires substantial funding, while toll revenue fell sharply as vehicles shifted to expressways, coastal roads and new connecting infrastructure. The decline put pressure on cash flow and the ability to fund repairs along the route.
Major overhaul estimated at more than VND600 billion
The investor is working with specialist organizations and design consultants to complete documents. They are expected to be submitted to the Vietnam Road Administration before October 20, providing a basis for starting the overhaul in November.
The investor said suspending toll collection did not mean that maintenance and repairs would stop. "Traffic safety and keeping the facility in operating condition must come first. Suspending toll collection does not mean stopping maintenance or repairs, or allowing the facility to deteriorate further," a representative said.
While the overhaul is pending, the project company was instructed to increase patrols, inspect potholes and damaged sections for temporary repairs, direct traffic and install warning signs at dangerous locations.
The project road is about 60 km long. After years of use, the pavement developed wheel ruts, peeling, alligator cracks and other damage. The Road Administration agreed in principle to a full overhaul consistent with the BOT contract's 2026 financial arrangement. The cost is estimated at more than VND600 billion, with the final amount to be set after the work volume and unit prices are finalized and approved.
Six repair orders and two fines
Thanh Niên previously reported that the Vietnam Road Administration ordered toll collection to stop because repairs on the Vinh bypass and the National Highway 1A section in Ha Tinh province had been delayed. Residents and local authorities had repeatedly reported the damage, which posed a potential traffic safety risk.
The agency issued six directives requiring the investor and project company to make repairs, but the work has not been completed. From September 11 to October 9, the company filled potholes, treated severely cracked pavement, repaired wheel ruts, fixed signs, delineator posts and traffic lights, and repainted road markings.
Many problems remain. Road markings are faded or ineffective, the steel girders of Ben Thuy Bridge are badly damaged, and some bridge approaches have subsided. Road Management Area 2 issued two administrative penalty decisions against the BOT branch. The Road Administration said repairs were progressing slowly and did not meet requirements.
It therefore ordered toll collection to stop at the two stations from 00:00 on October 20 for 30 days. If the investor does not fully repair the damage, the authorities will consider further action under the regulations.
Sources: Thanh Niên
