The National Highway 279 upgrade project is a key project, of strategic significance in connecting traffic in the Northwest region with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, thereby connecting with the northern mountainous provinces and international border gates.
The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government, including 2 connecting routes, with a total length of about 200 km, with an investment capital of more than VND6,000 billion. In Van Ban district alone (Lao Cai province), the project has about 60 km passing through, mainly on National Highway 279.
According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper after the National Day holiday on September 2, on many packages under the project, the working rhythm has been quickly restored.
Contractors simultaneously mobilized additional human resources, road rollers, bulldozers, and trucks to level, transport materials, and construct embankments and embankments to prevent landslides. The bustling working atmosphere at the construction site is no different from the peak days before the holidays.
Mr. To Viet Thuong - Commander of the XL01 package (Connecting Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company, Phuong Thanh Traffic Construction Investment Joint Stock Company and 168 Construction Group Joint Stock Company) - said that the unit has recently stepped up the renovation and upgrading of National Highway 279. In addition to the times when the rainy and windy weather had to stop, taking advantage of the sunny days, the unit mobilized a series of road rollers, excavators and trucks to speed up road construction.
"The site clearance work is now almost complete to serve the construction process. Therefore, right after the National Day on September 2, we mobilized workers to work overtime day and night when the weather was favorable, determined to complete the project before December 31, 2025", said Mr. To Viet Thuong.
At the XL03 and XL02 packages, workers and machinery are also operating at full capacity. All units strive to keep the entire route on schedule before December 31, 2025.
Along with the rapid construction progress, ensuring traffic safety for people passing through is also of great interest to the investor and contractor.
In fact, in the past, many packages have encountered difficulties due to prolonged rain and land clearance problems, leading to slow progress.
However, with the dry weather in recent days, along with the urgent spirit after the holiday, construction units are taking advantage of maximum time, working overtime in the evening to compensate for the delayed volume.
According to Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Construction), to date, the progress of the entire route has reached over 70% of the volume. The investor requires contractors not only to maintain the pace after the holiday but also to speed up and ensure timely handover.
On September 3, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Le Van Quan - Officer of Project Management Board 2 - said: "Although the packages have been extended, our viewpoint is to strive to basically complete before December 31, 2025, and open to traffic before the Lunar New Year. After the National Day ceremony, we urged the contractor to increase construction, mobilize more human resources and vehicles, and ensure absolute safety for people and vehicles during the implementation process".
With an urgent return to the construction site after the holiday, it is expected that the billion-dong road connecting Lao Cai - Lai Chau will soon reach the finish line, opening up new development opportunities for the Northwest region.
