Workers are still trying to clear debris from the other lane of the pass. Up to 50,000 cubic metres of rocks and soil have fallen from a nearby mountain following heavy rain since December 15, causing traffic disruptions on the key highway between Nha Trang and Dalat.
According to Chu Van An, the director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Transport, authorities cleared enough debris to reopen one lane of the pass at 2 am on December 19.
"Multiple teams worked tirelessly in three shifts, using heavy machinery to break through massive boulders and reopen the road," he said, adding that on the evening of December 16, crews used 17 kilos of explosives to demolish a 100-tonne rock blocking the road, only to discover additional boulders in subsequent cleanup efforts.
Authorities have installed warning systems and deployed personnel to regulate traffic along the reopened lane. Vehicles are currently being directed to pass through the affected area one at a time to ensure safety.
While one lane is operational, repairs and debris removal restore full traffic flow on the 33 km pass.
Khanh Le Pass is part of National Road 27C, which spans 121 km and connects Nha Trang and Dalat cities. During the rainy season, the pass often experiences landslides.