Da Lat pass lampposts raise traffic risk concerns

After over 10 months of construction, a 3-km section of the pass, from the Datanla waterfall to downtown Da Lat, was opened to the public on Dec. 14. The road was expanded to be 14 m wide, with four car lanes.

However, the lampposts at the location were not planted into the ground as they usually are. They were embedded into the cliffside, with drainage canals situated right beneath them.

Several people were concerned that the design may be dangerous, and proposed that either reflective surfaces or fences be erected along the canals to prevent vehicles from crashing into them.

Nguyen Van Gia, director of the Lam Dong Department of Transport, said when authorities expanded the Prenn Pass, they tried not to touch forest land, so there was not enough space to plant the lampposts into the ground.

“Some people may get scared, but in reality, the lampposts lie outside of the canals and have nothing to do with the lanes that vehicles run on,” Gia said, adding that the design had been evaluated by the Department of Construction.

Gia said the project’s managing unit would invite consultants to evaluate the project’s safety. The department and the consultants will see if the lampposts pose traffic risks, and if they do, they will be adjusted.

The Prenn Pass, spanning 7.4 km and connecting with National Highway 20, a vital traffic route from the eastern parts of southern Vietnam to Da Lat. A total of VND553 billion ($22.72 million) has been invested for the pass’s expansion. The pass still has 4 km left to be expanded, and construction is ongoing.

The entire pass is expected to be temporarily opened on Dec. 28 so people can travel around for the New Year holiday. It will then close again for completion.