On December 13, Lao Dong news source reported that Road Management Area III (Vietnam Road Administration) has just requested Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Transport) to ensure traffic safety on National Highway 19 under the Project to Enhance Traffic Connectivity in the Central Highlands region.
According to Road Management Area III, the Central Highlands Traffic Connectivity Enhancement Project invested by Project Management Board 2, during the project implementation, there were still many shortcomings in ensuring traffic safety.
According to the report of the Road Management Office III.4, prolonged heavy rain caused landslides on the slope of the slope at Km64+650 (An Khe Pass), the roadbed was flooded with about 40cm of water, causing traffic congestion.
To ensure the smooth flow of National Highway 19, Project Management Board 2 is requested to urgently direct the contractor to clear and clear the landslide slope at the above location, take measures to drain the roadbed, ensure smooth traffic, and avoid prolonged congestion.
Immediately fix existing problems within the project scope, such as: Repair slippery roadbed locations, risk of traffic congestion through An Khe pass; fully supplement barriers, markers, signs, warning lights at construction sections and arrange guards, traffic flow at both ends.
Project Management Board 2 is fully responsible before the Ministry of Transport, the Vietnam Road Administration and the law if there is any unsafety for people and vehicles participating in traffic, traffic congestion due to failure to promptly repair or delay in overcoming the project's shortcomings.
As reported, on the afternoon of December 13, the construction unit of the Central Highlands Traffic Connection Enhancement Project stopped traffic on National Highway 19 through An Khe Pass connecting Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces to continue to fix flooding and landslides, causing traffic congestion on the route.
Speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Le Ngoc Nam - Executive Director of the Project to Enhance Traffic Connectivity in the Central Highlands, Project Management Board 2 said that after repairing and opening the road to traffic yesterday afternoon, it continued to rain heavily, causing the road surface to become muddy.
"The construction unit must stop the vehicles to thoroughly fix the muddy areas on the road surface, ensuring safety for vehicles moving through the route. We are currently in the process of allowing vehicles to circulate again," said Mr. Nam.
As reported on December 12, prolonged heavy rain caused a section of National Highway 19 through An Khe Pass to be flooded, causing traffic congestion for many hours.
It is known that the Project to Enhance Traffic Connectivity in the Central Highlands region has a total route length of about 143.6km (17km in Binh Dinh province, 126.34km in Gia Lai province), with a total project investment of about 155.8 million USD, with Project Management Board 2 as the investor.
The project's starting point is at Km50+00, National Highway 19 in Tay Son district (Binh Dinh province); the end point is at Km241+00, National Highway 19 in Duc Co district (Gia Lai province).
