During the rainy season in Gia Lai that lasted for many months, National Highway 14C, a border road running along Ia Mo and Ia Tach communes, was eroded and peeling; many sections of the road had potholes.
Mr. Tran Manh Than - residing in Chu Prong commune, Gia Lai province - said: "Every rainy season, the road is damaged, affecting the transportation of agricultural products and goods of people along the border".
National Highway 14C connects border communes such as Ia Dom, Ia Nan, Sa Thay, Ngoc Hoi, Ea Sup... Along the route, local people often transport agricultural products such as sweet potatoes, rubber latex, coffee, durian... through areas for exchange and trading.
When the project to upgrade and expand National Highway 19 is completed by the end of 2024, this route will connect with National Highway 14C, creating connections and facilitating people to move from the lowland to the coastal plain of the Central region.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Le - residing in Ia Tach commune - shared: "The border road has not many vehicles but every year it is degraded and damaged. Border traffic infrastructure needs to continue to be invested in and upgraded to meet the travel needs of the people, facilitating the socio-economic development of mountainous areas".
Mr. Ha Anh Thai - Deputy Director of the Department of Construction of Gia Lai province - said that the National Highway 14C project through Gia Lai is paved with asphalt on weak geological foundations, prone to landslides; while floods occur frequently, the road is often damaged and degraded.
With weak mountainous geology, the Department of Construction of Gia Lai province proposed to build the road completely with concrete to ensure quality, safety and limit cracks and subsidence. At the same time, capital for maintenance, repair and upgrading of the road also needs to be invested.
National Highway 14C is 566 km long, a national traffic route connecting provinces along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. The route starts at Plei Can intersection (intersection with National Highway 40), in Ngoc Hoi commune, Quang Ngai province.
National Highway 14C was built to ensure maintaining national security and defense, while creating conditions for economic development in border areas.
