Constantly late
The project to enhance traffic connectivity in the Central Highlands region (upgrading and expanding National Highway 19 through Gia Lai and Binh Dinh) has a length of 143.6 km, with a total investment of more than VND 3,654.4 billion (equivalent to USD 155.8 million), of which USD 150 million is borrowed from the World Bank (WB).
Construction started in June 2021, the project was initially committed to be completed in June 2023, but due to delays, it was adjusted to June 30, 2024.
Up to now, 7/8 packages of the project have reached the finish line. The remaining package - XL01 - is still unfinished and in disarray.
Joining the project 1 year later, XL01 is 17km long through Tay Son, Binh Dinh, including the An Khe pass section, which is the most difficult part.
In the recent extension, XL01 was allowed to be “extended” until October 31, 2024. The “target” was too much for the actual construction site, so it was not difficult to understand why it was… replaced by an official proposal from the contractor, Bac Trung Nam Infrastructure Construction Joint Stock Company. This time, the proposed completion date was postponed to December 31.
Contractor's reason
XL01 is now 92% complete. Package manager Cao Van Hoa listed the remaining items: “C19, C12 asphalt concrete pavement; excavation and filling of 300m of special intersection on An Khe Pass; completion of drainage system, additional slope protection…”.
In the plains, through the two communes of Tay Thuan and Tay Giang, Mr. Hoa said that there are still about 20-30 households who have not agreed with the land clearance policy or objected to the results of the assessment of compensation for houses and properties damaged by construction impacts. Tay Giang is a "bottleneck" that has lasted for 2 years; where some households living near Bau Sen and Ba La bridges have shown no signs of stopping in their efforts to obstruct and slow down construction activities.
Mr. Hoa, who was just mobilized to the scene in September during the “troop increase, general change” of the North, Central and South (abbreviated), described the current situation: “We have lost tens of billions of dong due to broken progress. How can a contractor accept delays that waste money and affect their reputation? There are many unpredictable situations. An Khe Pass is a unique road, with high traffic density, many trucks weighing up to 60-100 tons, traffic jams happen like clockwork. We are struggling to work and ensure traffic flow at the same time.
The concrete pavement must be “torn apart” into 200-300m pieces instead of being continuous for kilometers. At special intersections, km 64+600, km 64+900, the process of breaking rocks, blasting, lowering the roadbed to a depth of 6-12m compared to the existing ground level, must strictly comply with the regulations of the authorities to ensure the safety of traffic participants below and the national power grid above. Blasting passports are issued in limited batches, 20kg of chemicals per day, if you want to be fast, you have to give up. Then there is the level of cooperation of the people, conflicts on forestry roads, the emergence of technical solutions to ensure safety”.
Mr. Hoa admitted that the unit was subjective and “lack of focus” in the initial stages of implementing the package. There were times when the coordination with local authorities was not really in sync!
No way back
100 machines and equipment, 200 officers and workers present every day at the construction site are the noticeable changes in the XL 01 package in late October. “December 31 is the final deadline according to the loan agreement with the sponsor. There is no way back,” Director Cao Van Hoa expressed his determination.
Not only the contractor, the investor, Project Management Board 2, the Ministry of Transport also sent a deputy director to the "front line".
At km 62 + 600, where a part of the road surface is being cleaned and sprayed with adhesive before laying C19, the leader of Project Management Board 2, after a "red-faced" work discussion with the contractor and the consulting and supervisory team, turned to explain: "The day before yesterday, it rained while we were working, so I asked to stop. This morning, we have to start over, accepting the loss of tens of millions. We have to be quick but we cannot be careless, we are not allowed to make design mistakes or technical mistakes."
Mr. Le Ngoc Nam, Project Management Director, thinks that we should have a sympathetic view of the difficulties of the construction unit:
“North Central South Infrastructure Construction Joint Stock Company is a strong unit in the transportation industry. The company's name is associated with a series of major projects in the country such as the North-South Expressway, the Hanoi Ring Road 2 elevated railway, My Thuan 2 Bridge, Cai Lon Sluice, Rach Mieu 2 Bridge. XL01 is a package whose technical design and many items must be handled quite specially; much more difficult and complicated than other packages. The delay in progress is the result of many causes. Both the Project Management Board, the contractor and the local government are responsible”.
Mr. Nam assessed: “This progress is also an effort. The construction site aims to basically complete the main items by October 31: Asphalt concrete paving, excavation and filling at the intersection, and opening of Ba La bridge. In addition, the Board is also considering adjusting the time for some items such as ensuring traffic safety...
In the meeting in early October, the project's difficulties and problems were listened to and noted by the sponsor.
Below An Khe Pass, Ba La Bridge, after many times of being “inactive”, is now under construction. On the right, heading towards Phu Phong town, there is also a bustling atmosphere of construction of retaining walls, drainage systems, and access roads…
Mr. Hoa added: “1,085 households complaining about the damage to their houses and structures due to construction activities have all been assessed. 410 households have received compensation. The remaining will continue to be paid in October.”
The Central Highlands regional traffic connection project is witnessing a sprint. However, nothing can be said for sure. In Ta Giang 1 village, Tay Giang commune, while there is no longer any voice opposing the plan to establish a feeder road, people like Ms. Le Thi Bich Van, Mac Thi Do, and Vo Thi Kieu are still determined not to give in until they find a common voice with Project Management Board 2, the contractor, and the insurance company on the compensation value!
