Highway 279 upgrade project resumes construction after floods

Widespread and prolonged floods caused by storm No. 10 have affected traffic projects being implemented in the province, including the National Highway 279 upgrade project connecting Lai Chau province with Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway (the project connecting traffic in the northern mountainous provinces). As soon as the weather was favorable, the construction unit mobilized human resources and equipment to compensate for the construction progress to ensure the project was completed as planned.

Widespread and prolonged floods caused by storm No. 10 have affected traffic projects being implemented in the province, including the National Highway 279 upgrade project connecting Lai Chau province with Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway (the project connecting traffic in the northern mountainous provinces). As soon as the weather was favorable, the construction unit mobilized human resources and equipment to compensate for the construction progress to ensure the project was completed as planned.

At Km 11+720 - Km 11+800 of the XL01 package, Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company is mobilizing rock breakers, excavators, and large trucks to urgently lower the slope and widen the roadbed. The construction site must ensure traffic while carrying out construction, so the contractor has organized a traffic diversion plan for construction vehicles and other vehicles on the road.

Engineer To Viet Thuong, in charge of technical supervision of the XL01 package, said: "During the recent flood, the unit had to temporarily stop construction for a week to ensure safety. Immediately after the rain stopped, the contractor mobilized vehicles and workers to return to the construction site and organize normal construction teams. Up to now, the overall progress of the XL01 package has reached about 70%, the joint venture of contractors strives to complete all items according to the investor's requirements by December 31."

At the XL02 package passing through the communes of Duong Quy and Minh Luong, the sounds of excavators, road rollers, and trucks resounded loudly on the construction site. This package passes through rugged terrain, rocky mountains, and the most complex construction conditions on the entire route. During the recent floods, the route was severely affected with dozens of large and small landslides.

The contractor representative said that immediately after forecasting the complicated flood situation, the construction unit urgently moved workers and vehicles to a safe place, arranged 24/7 staff to observe and promptly handle vulnerable locations, minimizing damage and safety risks.

As soon as the weather is favorable, contractors prioritize finishing the foundation construction in low-lying areas; completing the sewer and ditch systems, reinforcing the slopes... to minimize the impact of rain and floods, while also prioritizing the route and speeding up the construction progress.

Not far away, at the XL03 construction site, in recent days, the construction unit has also increased human resources and machinery, flexibly adjusted the construction sequence, ensured quality, and determined to complete the project handover goal in 2025.

Previously, the construction unit coordinated closely with local authorities and management agencies to inspect and evaluate the current status, conduct monitoring and technical acceptance before fixing and continuing construction of the next items. To date, the XL03 package has reached more than 80% of the volume, nearly 1 month ahead of schedule.

The project to upgrade National Highway 279 connecting Lai Chau province with Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway (Project connecting traffic in the Northern mountainous provinces) has its starting point (Km 0+000) at the IC16 intersection of Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, in Bao Ha commune, Lao Cai province to its end point (Km 146+600) at Km 34+800 of National Highway 4D, Lai Chau province. The route length is about 147.1 km, a grade III mountainous road.

The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Government . The section passing through Lao Cai province is 64 km long, with 3 packages: XL01, XL02, XL03 passing through the communes: Bao Ha, Van Ban, Duong Quy, Minh Luong, Nam Xe.

The project is of great significance in completing the transportation network in the northern mountainous region, shortening travel time, promoting socio-economic development, and connecting Lai Chau province with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway.

Floods caused by the circulation of storm No. 10 and natural disasters since the beginning of the year have slowed down the construction progress of some packages. As soon as the weather was favorable again, the investor directed the units to mobilize maximum human resources, machinery and construction equipment to restore the site, clean the roadbed, repair damage caused by floods and continue to implement according to the approved progress milestones.

The remedial work focuses on reinforcing the roadbed, treating the slope, transporting materials to the construction sites, and working overtime to make up for the interrupted time. From now until the end of the year, the weather will be favorable, so the contractors have developed plans to compensate for the progress, work overtime, mobilize more equipment and human resources, and simultaneously implement "3 shifts, 4 crews" construction to take advantage of the favorable time.

Mr. Vu Tuan Khanh - representative of Project Management Board 2, Ministry of Construction said: The project implementation area passes through high mountainous areas, strongly fragmented terrain, and is in an area with high risk of landslides. Therefore, to cope with the annual rainy season, the investor has requested contractors and construction supervision consultants to organize construction measures suitable to the terrain and hydrological conditions along the route, thereby minimizing damage caused by natural disasters.

Up to now, the progress of the entire route has reached over 70% of the volume, we strive to basically complete it before December 31, 2025 and open to traffic before Lunar New Year 2026.

The floods have significantly affected the project's construction progress. However, with timely response plans, the damage at the construction site has been limited. This is a favorable condition for the contractor to quickly resume construction, determined to make up for the progress, ensure the project is completed according to plan, soon promote the effectiveness of traffic connection, serve the socio-economic development of the localities where the project passes through.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/du-an-nang-cap-quoc-lo-279-thi-cong-tro-lai-sau-mua-lu-post885293.html