Thu Thiem Tunnel to open next month

The Thu Thiem Tunnel will be opened to traffic on November 20 but vehicles are not allowed to use horns, turn on priority lights and stop inside the tunnel, said the HCMC Department of Transport last week.

As for the traffic time, automobiles and coaches can travel at any time but light trucks can only travel through the tunnel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Heavy trucks can pass through the tunnel from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and motorbikes can travel from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Pedestrians, rudimentary vehicles, super-heavy trucks and vehicles carrying animals, explosives or dangerous goods are not allowed to cross the tunnel.

Vehicles, which are restricted in the tunnel, include cars weighing over 30 tons and trailers, semi-trailers of cars or trucks at a height of over 4.2 meters or width of over 2.5 meters. These vehicles can only travel in the tunnel based on relevant authorities’ permission.

In addition, the maximum and minimum speed for cars is 60 and 30 kilometers per hour respectively, while the minimum distance between two cars on the same line is set at 30 meters. The maximum speed for motorbikes is 40 kph.

Drivers need to strictly adhere to regulations on speed and distance to ensure safety when going through the tunnel, stressed Le Toan, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Transport. Those who violate the rules will be handled based on images recorded by cameras.

There will be electronic notices and traffic policies to be arranged to support and instruct drivers after the tunnel is put into operation.

Toan told the Daily that fee levels are still under consideration and are planned to be applied after the Tet Holiday.

A rescue group staffed 24 hours-a-day is in charge of dealing with any trouble in the tunnel, said Tran Quang Lam, director of the Thu Thiem Tunnel Management Center.

As scheduled, the city transport department will cooperate with related agencies to carry out a rescue exercise on October 22 and allow vehicles to experimentally travel for one week before inaugurating the tunnel on November 20.

Vietnamnet/ SGT

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