Dusty, people 'heart-stopping' when traveling on National Highway 7A

Clip: Quang An - Nguyen Hai

Present at National Highway 7A on August 15-16, reporters recorded that the construction of the project to renovate and upgrade this route is still in disarray. At construction sites passing through Dien Chau, Dien Phuc, Dien Cat towns... most of them have no signs, guides, or traffic diversion, while the traffic volume is very heavy.

Workers are constructing National Highway 7A right in the middle of the road, passing through Dien Chau town, without signs or markers, and with heavy traffic. Photo: Nguyen Hai

The most worrying thing is the dust flying all over the road due to heavy trucks running continuously. There are places where people cannot see their surroundings because they are covered in white, which is both polluting and unsafe, especially at the intersection between National Highway 7A and the North-South Expressway.

According to observations, although the construction unit mobilized water spraying trucks to reduce dust, the scope was only around the intersection, other points were not watered regularly. Although watering was done, under dry and sunny weather conditions and the frequency of vehicles carrying soil and rocks, it only took 30 minutes for the water to return to its original state.

White dust flies on National Highway 7A, the intersection with the North-South Expressway. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Ta Danh Than, Dien Cat commune (Dien Chau), currently living along National Highway 7A, said: Nearly 2 years since the National Highway 7 upgrade project started, his family and other households here have not been at peace, their lives have been disrupted, business has been poor, and goods have been covered with dust. Therefore, houses and shops have always had to be closed...

The larger the truck, the more dust it creates. Photo: Quang An

“At first, the construction volume was small, but in recent months, due to the simultaneous upgrading of National Highway 7A and the North-South Expressway, the section passing through Dien Cat commune has been accelerated, so the number of vehicles carrying dirt and rocks has increased, causing more serious dust and pollution. Meanwhile, the construction unit only sprays water occasionally. Our point of view is to always accompany the country's traffic development projects, but the construction unit must be responsible for ensuring safety and the environment for people living in these areas…” - Mr. Than emphasized.

It is known that, because they could not stand the pollution and unsafety, last week, Mr. Than's residential area held a meeting and petitioned the government and the construction unit to find solutions to ensure the health and rights of the people.

People traveling through National Highway 7A have to endure constant pollution. Photo: Nguyen Hai

Talking to us, Mr. Le Manh Hien - Vice Chairman of Dien Chau District People's Committee said: Having received feedback from the people and the locality, recently, the District Traffic Safety Committee has continuously reminded and issued documents requesting contractors to take measures to ensure safety for people and vehicles during the construction process. Particularly at the intersection of National Highway 7 with the North - South Expressway in Dien Cat commune, units are required to comply with commitments on environmental protection when constructing through residential areas. The District Traffic Safety Committee and functional forces will strengthen inspection and strictly handle any unit that does not strictly comply with solutions to ensure the environment and safety for people.

Dust billows behind a truck on Highway 7A. Photo: Quang An

National Highway 7 has a total length of 227 km, starting from the intersection at Km0 with National Highway 1A in Dien Chau district to the end point at Nam Can Border Gate, Ky Son. After a period of operation, due to many sections being degraded and to serve development requirements, National Highway 7 was approved by the Ministry of Transport to be renovated, upgraded and assigned to the General Department of Roads as the investor, construction phase 2021-2025.

The National Highway 7 upgrade project is designed according to the standards of a level III plain road, with a speed of 80 km/h; for sections passing through urban areas, the design speed is 60 km/h, the roadbed width is 12 m, the road surface width is 11 m, and sections passing through urban areas are 20 - 25 m wide. The total investment cost is 1,300 billion VND. Of the total 36 km that must be completed, the section from Dien Chau - Do Luong is 9.18 km long (from Km0 to Km9 +180), including the section passing through Dien Chau of 5 km and the Yen Thanh - Do Luong section of 4.18 km.

People lost among large vehicles on Highway 7A. Photo: Quang An

It is known that this project was started on September 7, 2022 and according to the original plan, the 5 km through Dien Chau will be completed in July 2023 to be technically open to traffic with the North - South expressway, Nghi Son - Dien Chau section. However, due to the progress of the Nghi Son - Dien Chau component project, the technical opening will be on September 2 and the Dien Chau district will not hand over the National Highway 7 site to the construction unit until July 24, 2023, so the construction site is still messy, posing a risk of accidents./.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/bui-mit-mu-nguoi-dan-thot-tim-khi-luu-thong-tren-quoc-lo-7a-post274904.html