The access road to Ngoc Lam 2 bridge is under construction after months of waiting for the land to be cleared. Photo: Huu Dai
The Ngoc Lam 2 Bridge construction project (located in Truong Van commune) was approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 1357/QD-UBND dated April 21, 2022, with a total investment of 110 billion VND. The project includes the bridge and approach roads at both ends, totaling over 2.5 km in length. It is expected to complete the regional transportation network, enhance inter-communal connectivity, create momentum for socio-economic development, and improve the lives of the people.
According to the plan, the project was scheduled for completion between 2022 and 2024. However, due to various reasons, particularly obstacles in land clearance, the progress has been delayed. On December 6, 2025, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 3815/QD-UBND adjusting the implementation time to 2026.
During a field inspection on April 20, 2026, by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the project remained virtually stalled due to obstacles in land clearance for the approach roads at both ends of the bridge. Only after direct instructions from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee did Truong Van commune and the investor, the Thanh Hoa Civil and Industrial Construction Investment Project Management Board, focus on resolving the issues, completing the relocation of all 13 households and handing over a clean site to the construction unit on May 10, 2026.
The consequences of the delay are not only a prolonged project timeline but also a direct impact on people's lives. Every day, people still have to travel across the dilapidated Ngoc Lam 1 bridge, which has a narrow deck, damaged railings in many places, and poses a potential traffic safety risk; while the new bridge, although basically completed, cannot yet be put into use because the access roads have not been finished. Furthermore, if the Ngoc Lam 2 bridge project is not completed before December 31, 2026, the disbursement of funds for this project will be seriously affected, potentially leading to the withdrawal of funds.
Currently, the contractor is working on treating the weak soil foundation. According to the investor, the settlement waiting period is expected to be completed around January 2027 before continuing with road surface construction. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has requested that appropriate technical solutions be studied, making the most of the time to put the bridge into operation in December 2026, meeting the transportation needs of the people.
The Ngoc Lam 2 bridge project demonstrates that even a single "bottleneck" in land clearance can halt an entire project worth hundreds of billions of dong. Significantly, if local authorities had been more proactive in communicating with, engaging with, and persuading residents, and promptly addressing obstacles from the outset, land clearance might not have dragged on to the point of requiring direct guidance from provincial leaders.
Recently, on June 10th, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee issued Directive No. 08 on strengthening leadership and guidance to resolve difficulties and obstacles for long-standing stalled projects in the province. The directive requires: “The Standing Committee of the Party Committee of communes and wards shall lead the government and subordinate agencies and units to uphold a high sense of responsibility and proactively coordinate with provincial departments, project owners, and investors in resolving difficulties and obstacles for projects in their areas; focus on reviewing and accurately verifying the origin of land, the process of land management and use, providing complete and timely records and documents, effectively carrying out compensation, land clearance, resettlement support, and promptly resolving requests and feedback from people and businesses. Issues within the authority of the commune level must be considered and handled promptly and in accordance with regulations; in cases exceeding the authority, a summary and report must be promptly compiled, clearly stating the content of the obstacles, causes, legal basis, and proposed solutions for submission to the competent authority for consideration and decision; absolutely no shirking or avoidance, allowing files to drag on, leading to complaints and delays in project processing. Any locality that causes delays or creates problems will be penalized.” "For heated and complex disputes arising from irresponsibility, the head of the organization must be held accountable before the law and before the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee."
The message from Directive No. 08, as well as the practical experience from projects in the province, is very clear: the commune level should not only be a coordinating unit but also a pioneering force in resolving difficulties at the grassroots level. When leaders dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility; when each obstacle is identified early and addressed immediately at the local level, the difficulties and obstacles of projects will be resolved, investment resources will be unlocked and utilized effectively, creating momentum for socio-economic development and strengthening the trust of people and businesses in the government.
Huu Dai
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/khoi-thong-diem-nghen-nbsp-tu-cap-xa-293010.htm
