Construction is being carried out in a piecemeal fashion due to a lack of available space.
According to the Project Management Board for Infrastructure Construction in Thai Thuy District, the unit is currently in charge of implementing 10 transportation projects in the area.
Besides the unhanded-over residential land area, one of the main reasons hindering land clearance for projects is the unrelocated power grid infrastructure.
Because the utility poles are located beneath the road surface, roadbed and drainage ditch construction is impossible in many places.
A survey conducted by reporters from Giao Thong Newspaper on several roads under construction in Thai Thuy district, such as: Highway 93B leading to the People's Committee of Thuan Thanh commune; Highway 95B connecting Thuy Phuc and Thuy Hung communes; Highway 93 connecting Thuy Trinh and Hong Dung communes; Highway 90 connecting Thuy Viet and Thuy Hung communes; Highway 95 connecting Thuy Phong and Thuy Ninh communes; Highway 96 connecting Duong Phuc to Thuy Duyen (phase 1); Highway 87 from Pho Market intersection to Cau Cau intersection… all revealed a common problem: obstruction by power line poles.
For example, the DH.93 road in Thuy Trinh - Hong Dung commune is 2.2km long. Currently, the contractor has completed asphalt paving for about 1km and constructed drainage culverts. In September-October 2023, the power company relocated 300m of underground cable, and the project contractor spent money to purchase 5 new poles. However, there are still 20 low-voltage power poles that have not been relocated.
Similarly, the second phase of Highway 95B from Thuy Phuc to Thuy Hung, with a length of 2.4km, currently lacks drainage ditches because the power grid infrastructure has not yet been relocated. The entire route requires the relocation of 31 low-voltage and 3 high-voltage power poles, but the relocation process is still very slow, affecting the project's construction progress.
Residents living around the area said that due to land clearance issues, road construction was left unfinished, and when it rains, water accumulates in large puddles, posing a potential traffic safety hazard.
The investor has requested the construction unit to remedy the situation by temporarily laying crushed stone and leveling the ground to allow people to travel.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Tan, from Phan Quynh Construction Investment and Trading Consulting Co., Ltd. (the project's contractor), stated: "Most of these utility poles are located within the road and drainage ditch areas, so many locations had to be left unfinished, preventing the construction of the road foundation and drainage ditches."
"The construction unit has repeatedly petitioned the local authorities and the electricity sector to resolve the issue, however, the implementation process remains slow, leading to interruptions in construction and affecting the progress and quality of the project," Mr. Tan said.
Relocating the power grid is not part of the power company's plan.
According to Mr. Bui The Dan, Director of the Infrastructure Construction Project Management Board of Thai Thuy District, the unit is currently in charge of implementing 10 transportation projects, which require relocating 207 low-voltage power poles, 11 medium-voltage poles, 2 transformer stations, and 300 meters of underground cable.
However, to date, the relocation of power grid infrastructure in most projects remains stalled, leading to the risk of delays.
The DH.93 road project passing through Thuy Trinh and Hong Dung communes has been halted due to land clearance issues.
During the construction of the projects, due to obstacles related to the power grid, the construction unit had to overcome these challenges and carry out the construction in a piecemeal fashion, laying the roadbed and drainage ditches in areas where land was available, leaving the rest unfinished.
Furthermore, although many sections of the road have completed the paving and asphalt surfacing, numerous utility poles remain in the middle of the road, posing a potential traffic safety hazard.
In order to promptly address difficulties, ensure the progress and quality of the project, and guarantee traffic safety on the route, the Project Management Board has requested the construction contractor to provide financial support for relocating the power grid infrastructure at several locations.
Accordingly, in 2023 alone, contractors spent approximately 127 million VND of their own funds to relocate 54 low-voltage power poles along the routes; more than 150 poles remain unaddressed.
"The delay in relocating power poles significantly affects the progress, quality of the project, and the efficiency of investment capital. Local authorities, relevant agencies, and especially the electricity sector need to be more proactive and diligent to ensure the timely relocation of the remaining power poles," Mr. Dan proposed.
A leader of Thai Thuy Power Company said: "In the past period, Thai Thuy Power Company has proactively worked with the Project Management Board and the construction contractor to resolve difficulties regarding the relocation of power lines."
However, after conducting surveys and preparing cost estimates, it was found that the number of power lines and substations needing relocation in ongoing transportation projects in the district is very large and is not included in the investment scope of Thai Binh Power Company and Northern Power Corporation, thus making it difficult for the unit to allocate funds for implementation.
Source
Comment (0)