Provincial Road 152 Upgrade Project: Need to completely overcome existing problems

As the peak of the rainy season approaches, residents and local authorities along Provincial Road 152, such as Cau May ward, Ta Van commune, and Ban Ho commune, are increasingly worried, as traveling on this road poses many dangers. According to our reporter's observations, the nearly 20-kilometer stretch of Provincial Road 152 from the center of Sa Pa town to the Ban Ho intersection has five major landslide or degraded sections. Although the unit responsible for upgrading and maintaining the road has repeatedly carried out repairs, the landslides continue due to the complex nature of the rainy season and the lack of a systematic and thorough solution.

According to observations by reporters, at the landslide site between Km1+800 and Km1+950 on Provincial Road 152 (the landslide point in the Cau May - Sa Pa high-end eco-tourism resort area), soil and rocks are still sliding down the embankment onto the road and road surface. It is known that this landslide occurred during the 2019 rainy season and was assigned to Truong Giang - Sa Pa Joint Stock Company (the company with the Cau May - Sa Pa high-end eco-tourism resort project located next to Provincial Road 152) to construct an embankment to prevent landslides and complete traffic safety measures. However, for unknown reasons, the remediation work remains incomplete, causing significant difficulties for vehicles passing through the area.

Between Km4+800 and Km5+00, the embankment also has many landslides, causing soil and rocks to bury drainage ditches and encroach onto the road. While trying to pick up rocks that had rolled into her cornfield along the road, Ms. Vang Thi Su from Ta Van commune worried: "There are several landslides along the road passing through our commune that haven't been repaired yet. The biggest landslide is right on my family's cornfield. Every time it rains, mud and soil from the road spill down, affecting our family's production. Not only that, the landslides on the road cause a lot of difficulties for people's travel. We have raised our concerns with the local government and relevant agencies many times, but for several years now, we haven't seen any action."

Traveling along Provincial Road 152, from Km7+500 to Km7+800, reporters observed that a nearly 200-meter section of road, which has been affected by landslides for several months, has yet to be fully repaired, leaving the road surface riddled with potholes. It is known that in 2022, the Provincial People's Committee approved the investment project for the elevated bridge; however, due to some obstacles in land clearance, construction remains unfinished.

Ms. Vu Thi Phuong, from residential group No. 1, Cau May ward, said: The erosion and deterioration on Provincial Road 152, the section from the center of Sa Pa town to Ban Den intersection, has been occurring for many years. Several traffic accidents have occurred due to people and tourists falling into deep potholes in the road.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Dinh, Head of the Urban Management Department of Sa Pa town, said: The project to upgrade and repair Provincial Road 152 has been handed over and put into use for more than two years, but some sections are still unfinished or damaged and degraded. Despite numerous requests from residents and local authorities, the problems have not been completely resolved, affecting transportation, people's lives, and the development of local tourism.

According to reporters' observations, on Provincial Road 152 (the section from the center of Sa Pa town through Cau May ward and the communes of Ta Van, Lien Minh, Ban Ho, etc.), in addition to 5 major landslides and degraded roadbeds, there are also several damaged drainage culverts on the road surface, posing a significant risk to traffic safety if drivers are not careful.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Kieu Anh Dung, Deputy Director of the Lao Cai Road Maintenance Management Board, said: Although the unit has received the handover from the investor to organize the maintenance of Provincial Road 152, some sections are still incomplete and not yet handed over, leading to deterioration and causing traffic safety hazards. The transport sector has requested the ODA Board to coordinate the remediation of the points from Km1+00 onwards. As for the section from Group 1, Cau May Ward back to the center of Sa Pa town, some drainage culverts are damaged; this is part of the inner city road and is managed and maintained by the Sa Pa Urban Management Department.

“We are deploying machinery and personnel to clear debris and repair the roadbed and drainage ditches at landslide and damaged areas from Km1+00 to the Ban Den intersection. As for the major landslides on the road section not yet handed over to the Lao Cai Road Maintenance Management Board, we request that the provincial ODA Board and Truong Giang - Sa Pa Joint Stock Company proactively implement solutions such as constructing retaining walls, rebuilding the roadbed, and building viaducts to ensure long-term safety,” Mr. Kieu Anh Dung added.

We are deploying machinery and personnel to clear debris and repair the roadbed and drainage ditches at landslide and damaged areas from Km1+00 to the Ban Den intersection. For major landslides on the road section not yet handed over to the Lao Cai Road Maintenance Management Board, we request that the provincial ODA Board and Truong Giang - Sa Pa Joint Stock Company proactively implement solutions such as constructing retaining walls, rebuilding the roadbed, and building viaducts to ensure long-term stability.
Mr. Kieu Anh Dung, Deputy Director of the Lao Cai Road Maintenance Management Board

Provincial Road 152 is the route from the center of Sa Pa town to famous tourist destinations such as Cloud Bridge, the ancient rock formations, Muong Hoa Valley, and down to lowland communes and wards like Ban Ho, Lien Minh, Muong Bo, and connecting to National Highway 4E. The road's deterioration and landslides not only affect the travel of local residents but also damage the image of the Sa Pa National Tourist Area. Authorities need to find solutions to address this issue promptly to ensure traffic safety for residents and tourists.

Presented by: Le Nam