The billion-dong road under construction
The project connecting the northern mountainous provinces with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government.
The project consists of 2 routes, of which route 1 is 147 km long, route 2 is about 53 km long. The total investment of the entire project is more than 6,000 billion VND.
In Lao Cai, the route mainly passes through the old Van Ban district with a length of about 60 km on National Highway 279. The project started in September 2022 and is expected to be completed in mid-2025.
According to Lao Dong on August 7, this route is still under construction and cannot be handed over and put into use as expected.
Along National Highway 279 through Van Ban commune, dozens of workers and a series of machines are urgently constructing, the site of the embankment, the site of the asphalt paving...
Mr. To Viet Thuong - Commander of Package XL01 (Connecting Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company, Phuong Thanh Traffic Construction Investment Joint Stock Company and 168 Construction Group Joint Stock Company) - said: "Our package is being delayed mainly due to the impact of site clearance for protective forests.
Resolving mechanisms related to forests is very time-consuming. In addition, many sections of the road are under construction at a slow pace due to waiting for blasting licenses, as well as the weather situation in the past time is not favorable".
According to Mr. Thuong, the unit is actively constructing, taking advantage of speeding up the progress to make up for the time waiting for the site and bad weather. At the same time, the unit also deployed more machinery and human resources to support other contractors, committing to reach the finish line before December 31, 2025.
As for the XL02 package, actual records show that the renovation of National Highway 279 through the center of Van Ban commune has been basically completed.
Commitments of investors and contractors
At the XL03 package (Connecting 703 Construction Investment Joint Stock Company and Manh Cuong Company Limited), contractors took advantage of the sunny weather, mobilized machinery to conduct asphalt pavement.
"The impact of flooded weather has a great impact on the construction process. Therefore, taking advantage of the sunny, dry days, from 6am, the construction teams of the unit work simultaneously, sometimes lasting until late at night to make the most of the favorable weather, making up for the delay in completing the road soon," said Mr. Bui Quang Hien - Commander of XL03 package.
According to the report of Project Management Board 2, the entire project has so far completed more than 70% of the volume.
Speaking to Lao Dong, Mr. Le Van Quan - an officer of Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Construction) - said: "Some construction packages are delayed due to protective forests, blasting licenses and prolonged rain and wind, but have been extended to March 2026.
Currently, the site clearance work has been 99% completed, so we continuously urge contractors to take advantage of this opportunity to speed up the progress".
Regarding traffic safety problems during the construction process, Mr. Quan said that, after receiving feedback from the people and the press, the investor will remind the construction unit to immediately fix them, if any problems occur, the contractor will be fully responsible.
"This is a renovation and upgrading project, not a new one, the number of vehicles passing through is very large, especially heavy trucks, so the road cannot be closed. Contractors are also trying very hard to ensure traffic safety and reduce environmental pollution when regularly watering to reduce dust.
The units strive to complete the entire route before December 31, 2025", added a representative of Project Management Board 2.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper published an article "Slow construction of the billion-dollar road connecting Lao Cai - Lai Chau" reflecting that the National Highway 279 upgrade project was slow to construct, lacking measures to ensure traffic safety.
After the reflection, the investor urged the contractor to implement additional measures to ensure traffic safety for people and vehicles.
