The project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 19 is nearly 230km long, designed with a speed of 80km/h, with a total investment of more than VND 3,600 billion (equivalent to 155.8 million USD). The project started in August 2021 and has now completed the main items by the end of 2024.
However, after only a few months of use, many sections through Mang Yang and Dak Doa communes (Gia Lai) have been damaged. The road surface has potholes, subsidence, cracks; the drainage system and sewer covers are also broken, posing a potential risk to traffic safety. People even have to use tires and foam boxes to cover and temporarily warn at deep subsidence locations.
Mr. Ha Van Tu - a bus driver on the Gia Lai route to Da Nang said: "During the rainy season, the road is quickly eroded. Every 15 - 20m, there are a series of potholes, if running at high speed, it is easy to collapse holes, damage vehicles or cause accidents".
According to the Road Management Office III.1 (Road Management Area III), since the beginning of the year, the unit has repeatedly requested Project Management Board 2 (investor) to direct the contractor to overcome the problem. If an accident occurs due to road damage, the construction unit must be fully responsible before the law.
The damaged points are concentrated in the XL-04A package (Km131+300 - Km155+000), in which the points Km131+330, Km131+750, Km131+760, Km131+790, Km131+810, Km131+880, Km131+950, Km132+030, Km132+050 are often damaged after prolonged rains.
Mr. Le Ngoc Nam - representative of Project Management Board 2 (now under the Ministry of Construction) said that he had requested the contractor to quickly repair it. Currently, Gia Lai Road Management and Repair Joint Stock Company is peeling off damaged plastic layers, re-paving the road surface, and compacting to ensure safe traffic.
Previously, in April 2025, Lao Dong Newspaper reported the inadequacy on National Highway 19 when many signs were installed densely, unscientifically and confused driver identification information. In Gia Lai, from Bau Can commune to Duc Co commune, Ia Krel commune, Ia Dom commune, there are many locations only a few dozen meters apart but there are 5 to 7 signs. This makes it difficult for drivers to observe and recognize the signal.
On April 22, 2025, a 30-seat school bus, when reaching Km 200+700 on National Highway 19, suddenly lost control and crashed into a household's house. The accident injured 3 people in the head area, 2 people in the hand and some other students had to be hospitalized.
Mr. Tran Thai Hoa - Head of Road Management Office III.1 - said that at the location of the passenger bus in distress on National Highway 19, the construction unit has not yet installed guardrails, this location is about 5m lower than the road surface.
