Struggling on the "path of suffering"
The Central Highlands have entered the peak of the rainy season, with heavy rains occurring continuously in many areas, including the western part of Lam Dong province. This is also the time when many major roads, including Provincial Road 681, are becoming increasingly damaged.
Along nearly 20km of Provincial Road 681, from Kien Duc commune to Quang Tan commune, numerous deep puddles of water have appeared in the middle of the road surface. The constant water accumulation causes the road to deteriorate more rapidly. Potholes and uneven surfaces are expanding due to the constant water retention.
The deteriorated road conditions make travel very difficult for vehicles. Motorcyclists have to swerve, or even drive on the roadside or in the opposite lane to avoid large puddles of water. Low-clearance cars move very slowly, cautiously trying to navigate the damaged sections of road.
The badly damaged road poses a potential traffic safety risk. Many people living along the road, such as the family of Nguyen Thanh Vinh in village 4, Kien Duc commune, have witnessed many accidents involving motorbikes falling off the deep “pond” in front of their house.
For the past few months, there have been many motorbike accidents in front of my house. Many women and students have fallen, getting dirty and in a pitiful state. It's a hardship for pedestrians, and the daily lives and businesses of people living along the road have been greatly affected.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh shared:
Currently, most of Provincial Road 681 is severely degraded. Traveling on this road is very difficult and time-consuming. If the road were in good condition, the journey would usually only take about 30 minutes, but now it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to travel over 30km due to the damaged road.
According to the leaders of Quang Tan commune People's Committee: Provincial Road 681 is in disrepair, and residents have frequently raised concerns at voter outreach meetings at the commune and provincial levels. In previous years, some severely damaged sections were repaired to make travel easier for residents during the rainy season. However, since the beginning of 2025, this road has not been repaired, causing significant difficulties and frustration for residents.
Since there is no public transportation in the area, most residents have to use motorbikes to take their children to and from school. With the new school year approaching, localized repairs to some severely damaged sections of Provincial Road 681 are essential.
Leaders of Quang Tan Commune People's Committee
Struggling with repairs and upgrades.
Provincial Road 681 has a total length of 36km, connecting the Ho Chi Minh Highway through Kien Duc commune, passing through Quang Tan commune to the two border communes of Tuy Duc and Quang Truc. This is a vital road connecting to the border region of Lam Dong province and is part of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia development triangle transportation network.
Despite its importance, Provincial Road 681 has long been under construction and is severely degraded. During the 2020-2021 period, the government allocated approximately 90 billion VND to upgrade sections of the road, facilitating smoother traffic flow and goods transportation.
Due to limited investment funds, the renovation of Provincial Road 681 has been piecemeal, only meeting requirements for a short period. Furthermore, the weak roadbed and high traffic volume have led to rapid deterioration of the road surface.
In the road renovation project from Km2 to Km16 (completed in July 2021), the road quickly deteriorated during the warranty period (24 months). Despite numerous repairs by the contractor, it quickly degraded again. Currently, this section of road is managed by the previous project's investor, the Investment and Construction Project Management Board No. 3.
The section of road from Km17 into Tuy Duc commune was renovated and completed in January 2022. This section of road had also deteriorated but was repaired by the contractor, basically meeting traffic needs. After the warranty period expired (January 2024), this road was inspected and handed over to Dak Nong Road Management and Repair Joint Stock Company for management.
During this rainy season, the section of road from Km17 onwards is also deteriorating rapidly. However, according to Vo Cong Hanh, Director of Dak Nong Road Management and Repair Joint Stock Company, this section is not yet ready for repair. According to regulations, minor maintenance can only be carried out at least every two years, and major repairs at least every four years from the date of handover.
Upgrading and renovating Provincial Road 681 is an urgent matter. After many years of deliberation, at the end of 2024, the local government approved the project to renovate and upgrade Provincial Road 681.
This project will upgrade 25.6 km of Provincial Road 681 with a total cost of 600 billion VND. The road will be upgraded to the standards of a Class III mountain road, with a roadbed width of 9m (6m road surface and 1.5m wide shoulders on each side).
The project to renovate and upgrade Provincial Road 681 received approval in principle on March 29, 2024, and the feasibility study report was approved on December 31, 2024. The project has a total investment of VND 600 billion (of which construction costs exceed VND 404 billion), to be implemented in the period 2025-2028, with the Investment and Construction Project Management Board No. 3 as the investor.
According to the plan set out for 2025 by Project Management Board No. 3, the unit will sign a consulting contract with a surveying and design unit to prepare construction drawings and cost estimates by the end of April 2025. By mid-June 2025, the units will complete the surveying and design work, prepare construction drawings and cost estimates, and submit them for appraisal and approval.
The investor plans to sign the construction contract and begin construction by the end of July 2025. By the end of 2025, approximately 30% of the contract value will have been completed, and construction will be underway in areas with severe damage.
As of the end of August 2025, the project to renovate and upgrade Provincial Road 681 had not yet commenced. A representative of the investor stated that they are finalizing the procedures and, if all goes smoothly, the project will begin in 2025. Because the project is still in progress, the relevant units have not yet started any localized repairs or renovations on Provincial Road 681.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/tan-nat-tuyen-tinh-lo-681-doan-qua-cac-xa-phia-tay-lam-dong-388540.html
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