Vantai24h – Date 03/07/2016 – Highway 26 starts from Khanh Hoa and runs eastward to Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. Despite strict enforcement of traffic rules, there are still many lawbreakers on this route.
Highway 26 is 151 km long, starting from the intersection of Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa Province to Buon Ma Thuot City. According to many drivers who usually go along this route: “Traffic police usually examine and observe vehicles right at Phuong Hoang Pass (the gate leading to Dak Lak Province). Only along the route of nearly 90 km from M’Drak District to Buon Ma Thuot City, the police will check vehicles regularly to ensure traffic safety”.
Veteran drivers also advise that when driving along Highway 26, you should carefully observe two sides of the road as there are unexpected situations which may occur on this route. The main reason is because some drivers and motorcyclists often go in the wrong lanes or with high speed. On the section through Ninh Thuan Commune (Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province), local vendors take use of the pavements to do their business, causing dangers for vehicles.
Highway 26 is an important traffic route which stimulates the economic and societal development of two provinces of Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa and Central Highlands. There are a growing number of traffic vehicles running on this route. However, due to the narrow road surface, it cannot meet the increasing demand for transporting industrial goods and agricultural products , especially in final months of a year in which these products need distributing all over the country to prepare for Tet Holiday. Highway 26 has a crucial meaning with the progress of traffic infrastructure and Vietnam’s economy. Therefore in the middle of 2015, the Ministry of Traffic and Transportation started the project of constructing the alternative road to the route going through Ninh Hoa Town and upgrading Highway 26 (the section through Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak Province).
Highway 26 will be renovated and upgraded into the high quality road with the surface of 12 to 14 m and the speed of 60 to 80 km/h. The section running through Khanh Hoa Province will be 8.1 km long with 4 lanes and the section through Dak Lak Province is 7.5 km long. The project is expected to finish at the end of 2016 and takes nearly 19 years to get back the starting capital through charging fees. There will be two tollbooths along this route, at Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak Province and the fee will be from 20,000 to 25,000 VND per vehicle (under 12 seats).
The upgrade of Highway 26 is very necessary to create favorable conditions for local residents to travel and stimulate the development of economy and society for not only Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak Province but also for the Middle and Central Highlands./.
