National Highway 279 construction is sluggish, with potential traffic accidents

Risk of traffic congestion during floods

Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh, a driver specializing in transporting salmon and sturgeon from Nam Xe commune, Lao Cai province, who sells wholesale to restaurants, shared: "Every month, I drive through National Highway 279 dozens of times. For nearly 3 years now, the construction unit has been digging up scattered roads along the route but there is no plan to ensure traffic, so the roadbed in many sections has almost become a mud field, with many potholes. Now, only two-wheeled pickup trucks or trucks can travel on this route, but low-chassis cars cannot.

Mr. Tran Van Hai, a fruit truck driver from Phu Tho to Lao Cai and Lai Chau - said: "I often transport goods to the Northwestern provinces but have not seen any more dangerous route than this route. The road from Van Ban commune to IC16 intersection (Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway) has already sloped, and has been dug up and blatantly everywhere, causing the roadbed to be slippery and extremely dangerous. One day, I was stuck for 3 hours in the middle of the road just because of the rain, mud and dirt spilled onto the road, causing traffic congestion. This is the rainy season, if the construction unit does not have a plan to speed up the progress of road surface completion, traffic congestion will continue to occur".

It is known that the Northern Mountainous Province Traffic Connection Project has a total investment of more than VND6,000 billion to shorten the journey to Hanoi of the Northern Mountainous Provinces, of which the XL-01 package through Van Ban Commune, Lao Cai Province has a total investment of more than VND474 billion.

According to the original plan, the entire project will be completed in the 2021-2024 period. However, up to now, the project is still under construction, with many sections of the road being bumpy, drainage ditches not yet complete, and dust and landslides often occurring.

Traffic participants and households along the road all suffer

According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, the section from IC16 intersection to the center of Van Ban commune is 18.5km long but has many construction sites that are still messy, posing a potential risk to traffic safety.

Not only drivers, people living on both sides of the road are also in trouble: Sunshine is dust, rain is mud flooding into their homes. Especially the situation of soil and rocks overflowing next to ponds and fields, causing disruption to people's lives.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a resident of Van Ban commune, worried: "This road has been under construction for several years but is still not finished. The road is dusty when it is sunny and muddy when it rains, so there are frequent collisions and traffic accidents.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thi Hai Yen, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department, Lao Cai Provincial Police, said: In early August, the unit organized patrols and worked with investors and contractors constructing the XL01 package to strengthen solutions to ensure traffic safety.

"We have clearly pointed out the limitations and inadequacies in ensuring traffic safety; at the same time, we require contractors to strictly implement regulations on implementing traffic projects that are both exploited and upgraded," said Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thi Hai Yen.