Khanh Le Pass has been opened to traffic with restrictions.

After more than a month of temporary closure of the pass due to a serious landslide on the night of November 16th, the vital National Highway 27C connecting Lam Dong with Khanh Hoa and other central provinces is gradually being repaired. Although traffic has been limited since December 24th, engineers and workers are still racing against time in many locations to completely repair the road in order to fully reopen it for the Lunar New Year.

The landslide area has been largely cleared and repaired.

Overview of the scene

On the night of November 16th, following a prolonged period of heavy rain, National Highway 27C – a strategic route connecting the coast and the islands, and also the main route linking Lam Dong with the central provinces – suffered a severe natural disaster. ^Hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of soil and rocks from the mountainside suddenly slid down, burying the road surface, causing serious damage to people and property, and cutting off traffic on this route.

The remediation efforts also faced numerous difficulties. Heavy rains and continuously unpredictable weather patterns caused new landslides to constantly appear along the national highway, resulting in landslides at many points along the same route. According to a report from Khanh Hoa Road Management and Construction Joint Stock Company, the entire pass recorded 42 large-scale landslides, 19 points of complete blockage, approximately 100 trees broken or fallen, and a total volume of soil and rocks exceeding 104,500 ^m³ .

Landslides have occurred quite frequently along the national highway, not only in Khanh Hoa province but also in Lam Dong province. However, the landslides in Lam Dong province are less severe, so these areas have been addressed promptly to ensure traffic flow.

Workers clear debris at the landslide site on Khanh Le Pass.

"Three shifts, four teams" to resolve the issue.

Recognizing the urgent need to restore this road, relevant authorities have mobilized all resources to clear debris, reinforce landslide areas, and address the problem. A representative from Khanh Hoa Road Management and Construction Joint Stock Company stated that the unit has continuously carried out debris clearing and slope reinforcement activities, mobilizing a large number of personnel and equipment, and implementing a "3 shifts, 4 teams" model. More than 20 machines and pieces of equipment, along with hundreds of personnel, are stationed 24/7 at the site to carry out remediation activities at multiple locations along the road.

Specifically at Km44+400 – where the most serious landslide occurred – the 5th Military Region Command and the Khanh Hoa Provincial Military Command deployed engineering troops and specialized equipment to deal with the massive rocks blocking the road. Engineering troops conducted surveys, drilled for positioning, and applied controlled blasting techniques to break up over 600 cubic meters ^of boulders to avoid causing vibrations that could affect the surrounding geological structure.

With moderately sized blocks of stone, workers use a combination of manual and mechanical methods to break them into smaller pieces, then transport them away from the site.

For areas with negative slope landslides, the construction unit proactively drives retaining piles and lays crushed stone to stabilize and prevent landslides, creating a solid foundation for temporary traffic flow before proceeding with permanent concrete paving in the next phase.

Moving towards opening the entire route to traffic.

The efforts made over the past period have initially shown positive results. By December 24th, the Khanh Le Pass had met the initial conditions to allow limited traffic flow, permitting vehicles to circulate during the day.

Sharing his experience these days, Mr. Dang Tuan, a frequent traveler on the Nha Trang - Da Lat route, said: “The road is much smoother now, although there are still some bumpy spots. People should travel during the day, choosing clear weather to ensure visibility. If the weather is bad, they should choose to take the Ngoan Muc Pass route as directed by the authorities.”

Currently, despite the first phase of traffic opening, the construction unit is continuing to focus manpower and equipment on the completion phase. They are continuing to thoroughly clear the remaining soil and rocks on both sides of the road to improve visibility and complete the asphalt road surface construction in areas where the foundation has been treated. The unit is also reinforcing the embankment slopes to prevent further landslides. The ultimate goal is to restore the Khanh Le Pass to its normal, safe, and smooth operating condition to serve the increased travel demand of people during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse).

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/deo-khanh-le-da-thong-xe-han-che-413739.html