In late May, the early summer sunshine spreading across the mountainous slopes of Loc Binh and Dinh Lap districts is also the time when the construction atmosphere at the construction site of the project to upgrade the section Km18-Km80 of National Highway 4B becomes more bustling than ever.
The sound of excavators and rolling cars echoed throughout the mountains and forests, mixed with the cheers of workers who were focusing on speeding up the construction progress during the final stage.
The 62.56km long route runs through two mountainous districts of Lang Son province, Loc Binh and Dinh Lap, divided into two main packages: package XL07 from Km18-Km43 and package XL08 from Km43-Km80.
From the beginning of the route in Dong Buc commune, Loc Binh district, following the engineer on duty at the site, the reporter witnessed a series of construction teams operating simultaneously.
The entire route currently has 44 construction teams, with nearly 600 workers, machine operators and hundreds of large capacity machines mobilized, working all day.
Some new bridges in the XL07 package have been completed for technical traffic, while the remaining items are closely following the schedule," said a representative of Xuan Quang Construction Joint Stock Company.
According to a report from the Project Management Board, as of mid-May 2025, the volume of roadbed excavation has reached more than 83%, K95 embankment has reached more than 81%, while the asphalt concrete pavement (BTN) project has completed nearly 26% of the route length.
The project passes through terrain mainly rugged hills. The winding roads, high slopes, and complex geology make it difficult to transport materials and construct. However, with the determination to "cut the mountain and open the road", the contractors still maintained the progress.
At Km29+800, where the road crosses a rocky mountain slope, dozens of workers are carefully handling weak soil to prepare for pouring the coated layer.
On the other side, the construction team is pouring the BTN layer through Dinh Lap town, connecting with the old road surface to ensure smooth operation and drainage.
Worker Nguyen Van Trong (Xuan Quang Joint Stock Company) shared: Working in mountainous areas, heavy rain or power outages are common. But the brothers still stay, because this route is very important, connecting Lang Son with Quang Ninh, making travel much more convenient for people in the highlands".
Also according to the Project Management Board for upgrading the section Km18-Km80 QL4B, although the construction volume has reached more than 43% of the construction contract value, the progress pressure is still very high.
Partly because the XL08 package has just started construction since May 2024, partly because of problems with site clearance, especially at intersections with power and telecommunications systems that have not been relocated.
Up to this point, the project has disbursed about 67.4% of the total capital (VND 1,547/2,296 billion), but the 2025 plan alone has only reached more than 10%. This is one of the major challenges, requiring close coordination between investors, contractors and local authorities.
The rainy season is approaching, and the first rains have begun to appear in the highland districts.
At the construction site, construction units are providing overtime shifts, taking advantage of the sunny days to complete the roadbed and foundation and embankment items.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of the Project Management Board - said: "We are focusing on handling problems on the site, coordinating with electricity and network operators to relocate infrastructure. At the same time, increase human resources and equipment, ensuring completion on September 30, 2025 according to the direction of the Ministry of Transport".
