Roads are eroded, people worry about each trip
Nearly a year after Typhoon Yagi swept through Lang Son province (September 2024), traces left by natural disasters on the DH.60. district road, the section connecting Binh La commune to Hong Thai (old Binh Gia district, now Tan Van commune) have not been repaired.
This is a vital traffic route, serving the travel, production and transportation of forest products and agricultural products for hundreds of households in the highlands. However, by early August 2025, many serious landslides still existed, posing a high risk of traffic accidents.
According to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, there are currently at least 7-8 serious landslides along the DH.60 route. Soil, rocks, and foundations are lying haphazardly on the road, many places on the positive slope, higher than 4m, are torn, without any fences or warning signs.
At Km9, a large mass of land slid down, occupying nearly half of the road. About 300m away, another landslide exposed the rock foundation, soil overflowed into the drainage ditch, obstructing the flow and posing a potential risk of further landslides.
Mr. Hoang Van Duc (Pia village, old Binh La commune) said: "This route connects the western communes of the district with the district center. After storm No. 3 in 2024, many landslides formed, but the units only leveled them temporarily, enough for a car to go in one direction".
According to Mr. Duc, during the rainy season, the pass is steep with high mountains on one side and a deep ravine on the other, making traffic dangerous. People often have to stop and wait every time a car passes by.
People overcome it themselves, the government is slow to handle it
Not only the DH.60, many other inter-commune roads are also in a similar situation.
Mr. Nguyen Dung (Tan Van commune) shared: "The section from the old Tan Van to Binh La has not been cleaned since the storm. There is a place where the soil covers almost the entire road, so I have to carry a hood to dig it myself all afternoon to have a way for motorbikes to pass.
In Quy Hoa commune, Mr. Hoang Tam reflected: "The road section passing through the old Vinh Yen commune is cracked, half of the hill slid down the road. The remaining rock and soil are also waiting to pour down, we passed by in fear.
According to Mr. Tam, the rainy season has not ended, while the new school year is about to begin, the frequent travel of students and people on landslide routes makes everyone worried about safety.
Mr. Duong Cong Vi - Director of the Department of Construction of Lang Son province - said that from July 1, 2025, the Department has taken over the management of 110 district roads with a total length of more than 1,400 km and assigned the Provincial Traffic Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Management Board to take charge.
Immediately after receiving the contract, we signed a maintenance and repair contract with previous units and extended the implementation period to the end of 2025. Inspection and maintenance work is still maintained regularly, even when there is no longer a district level, Mr. Vi informed.
However, reality shows that many roads have been eroded for nearly a year, seriously affecting the lives and traffic safety of people in the highlands.
