Many provincial roads in mountainous areas are seriously degraded.

Provincial road 530D through Giao An commune has degraded.

Concerns about traffic safety

Provincial Road 530B was invested in construction since 2011, is the main traffic axis connecting Dong Luong and Van Phu communes with Trung Ha commune. After many years of use, this road has seriously degraded, many locations of the road surface are severely damaged, becoming a nightmare for residents and daily passersby.

According to the reporter's records, there are many sections of the road surface that have peeled off, with "potholes" and "elephant holes" appearing along the route. The road is narrow with many sharp turns, making it potentially unsafe for vehicles to avoid each other. Especially in areas with schools, where people and students gather during rush hour. Mr. Ha Van Inh, a resident living along Provincial Road 530B, worried: "We travel on this route every day, especially businesses, traders, and goods transporters. The degraded road causes many inconveniences and dangers, especially on rainy, slippery days, and vehicles are prone to collisions."

Not only route 530B, but also provincial route 530D, about 16km long, connecting Linh Son and Giao An communes with communes in Thuong Xuan district (old), is also in a similar situation. Many sections of the road are severely damaged, the asphalt layer has peeled off, revealing the gravel and stone foundation. "Elephant potholes" and "chicken potholes" from 10 to 20cm deep are crisscrossed on the road surface, becoming dangerous "traps" for people and vehicles passing by. People in Giao An commune living along the road said: The road does not have a drainage system on both sides, so every time it rains heavily, the water stagnates for a long time, causing the road surface to quickly deteriorate. Meanwhile, this is a route with a high density of vehicles, especially heavy trucks. Prolonged deterioration not only affects traffic and freight transport but also directly impacts people's lives, potentially posing a risk to traffic safety.

In the same situation, provincial road 521E, from Muong Lat commune intersection to Quang Chieu and Muong Chanh communes, is also in a state of serious degradation. The entire route is more than 25km long, is the main traffic axis of the border communes, and has special significance for socio -economic development and national defense and security. The route was built according to mountain level VI standards, with a 6.5m wide base and a road surface of only 3.5m. After a long time of use, combined with the impact of storms and floods, fragmented terrain and high traffic volume, the road surface at many locations has peeled off, negative slopes have collapsed, and drainage ditches have been damaged. Mr. Vi Van Thiep, Muong village, Quang Chieu commune, said: "In the rainy season, the road has many damaged and landslide spots. The road surface is small and has many curves, so collisions are likely to occur. People hope that the State will pay attention to investing in upgrading it to make travel more convenient and safer."

Need sustainable investment resources

Speaking to reporters, a representative of the Traffic Works Maintenance Management Board and Public Passenger Transport Operation Department, Department of Construction, said: In response to the petition of voters of communes related to Provincial Road 521E, the Provincial People's Committee has issued Report No. 69/BC-UBND dated April 23, 2025 to the Provincial People's Council, affirming that the proposal to invest in upgrading the road is necessary and legitimate. However, due to limited budget sources for the 2021-2025 period, the province has not been able to allocate capital for the overall project. While waiting for investment sources, specialized units are focusing on performing periodic maintenance and repair work to ensure traffic safety.

Provincial Road 530D is identified as one of three important traffic routes, playing a role in connecting mountainous communes with National Highway 47, National Highway 15C and Provincial Road 530C. In the face of prolonged degradation, in 2024, two projects have been approved for repair. Specifically, the spillway at Km8+100 and Km3+700 of Provincial Road 530D, contractors are currently implementing construction. Along with that, some seriously degraded sections of Route 530B have also been included in the repair and restoration plan.

According to the representative of the Traffic Works Maintenance Management Board and Public Passenger Transport Operation, the annual funding for maintenance and repair of provincial roads is limited, while the need for repairs is large, so the capital allocation must be calculated reasonably, prioritizing heavily degraded routes or routes with high traffic volume. "Current maintenance and repair is mainly a temporary solution. In the long term, to ensure sustainable traffic, large investment capital is needed to synchronously upgrade the infrastructure of mountainous provincial roads," the representative of the unit emphasized.

In reality, transportation is a prerequisite for the development of mountainous areas. When roads are not guaranteed, the implementation of national target programs, new rural construction, tourism development, and improving the lives of ethnic minorities will face many obstacles. In addition to the significance of economic development, the above routes also have a strategic role in national defense and security, serving the patrol and control of border areas. Therefore, the early investment plan to upgrade the mountainous traffic infrastructure system in a synchronous and sustainable direction is an urgent requirement, contributing to expanding the development space, ensuring safety for people and maintaining security in border areas.

Article and photos: Dinh Giang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhieu-tuyen-tinh-lo-tren-dia-ban-mien-nui-nbsp-xuong-cap-nghiem-trong-268585.htm