Some sections of the road have had their surface construction completed.

Recovering after a natural disaster

The journey began in the southeastern part of the country, the car slowly rolling along winding mountain passes. On either side of the road were endless stretches of acacia and rubber forests interspersed with vast primeval forests. The green stretched on, but here and there, the scars of natural disasters were still visible: landslides, scattered rocks and trees, and sections of road that had just been leveled.

Further along the route, the atmosphere of the construction site became evident. Groups of workers were busy with construction: some were shoveling earth, others reinforcing embankments, and still others installing corrugated steel sheets along dangerous sections. The sounds of excavators and bulldozers mingled with the shouts and calls of workers, creating a rhythm of urgent labor.

At a major landslide site, the soil and rocks that had previously buried the road surface have now been cleared. Construction teams are urgently working on retaining walls to prevent further landslides and reinforce the roadbed. The rocks are neatly arranged, combined with an improved drainage system to minimize the risk of re-landslides when the rainy season returns. At Km9, we met Mr. Nguyen Huu Phu, the head of the Km9 - Huong Son Forest Management and Protection Station ( thuộc the Nam Song Huong Protective Forest Management Board), who has been involved in forest management and protection along this road for many years. Amidst the vast mountainous forest, he and his colleagues are conducting thorough inspections of the area while closely monitoring the progress of the construction project.

Mr. Phu said: “Route 74 plays a very important role in forest management. When the road is damaged by floods, patrolling and monitoring become very difficult. Now that the road is being restored, we are very relieved because it will be easier to protect the forest.” According to Mr. Phu, during the construction process, all units focused on minimizing the impact on the natural forest. Construction was strictly controlled, ensuring that it did not encroach beyond the permitted area.

Leaving Km9, we stopped at a small village along the route. Life here is gradually changing with each meter of road completed. Meeting us, Mr. Ho Sy Doan shared: “The villagers are very excited; the road is almost finished. Once completed, travel will be easier, especially for going to work in the fields.”

A delegation from Military Region 4, led by Lieutenant General Ha Tho Binh, Commander of Military Region 4, inspected the Highway 74 project in March 2026.

Accelerating construction, aiming for completion in June 2026.

Along Route 74, the construction spirit is high. Teams and crews are working continuously, taking advantage of every dry hour. Many construction teams are organizing overtime shifts to make up for previous interruptions. Corrugated steel guardrails are being installed quickly at dangerous curves, contributing to traffic safety.

During a recent inspection, Lieutenant General Ha Tho Binh, Commander of Military Region 4, personally inspected the progress and quality of the project. Based on his on-site observations, General Ha Tho Binh acknowledged and highly appreciated the sense of responsibility and efforts of the units in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and proactively carrying out construction. Emphasizing the importance of Route 74, Lieutenant General Ha Tho Binh affirmed that this project is of special significance for the socio -economic development and national defense and security of the mountainous region. Therefore, the requirement is to ensure both progress and quality.

The Commander of Military Region 4 also requested that units continue to mobilize maximum manpower, resources, and equipment; closely monitor weather developments, and take advantage of favorable days to accelerate progress. In particular, it is necessary to focus on completely resolving landslides caused by floods and heavy rains, ensuring construction is carried out according to technical standards. Simultaneously, labor safety and traffic safety must be strictly implemented. Units must not be complacent and must prioritize safety in all stages of construction.

A group of workers are reinforcing the embankment on Route 74.

The project is expected to be completed, inspected, and put into operation in June 2026. This is both a pressure and a motivation for the forces on the construction site to make even greater efforts to ensure the set schedule is met.

Phase 3 of the Highway 74 project spans approximately 48km and is being developed to the standards of a Class V mountain road, with a roadbed width of approximately 6.5m and a road surface width of 3.5m. The project has a total investment of approximately 475 billion VND, commenced in January 2024, and is currently being expedited by the construction units, aiming for completion by June 2026. Highway 74 plays a vital role as a transportation artery connecting the Nam Dong area with A Luoi, contributing to socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security in the mountainous region.

Text and photos: THAI BINH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/xay-dung-giao-thong/tang-toc-thi-cong-tuyen-duong-74-164462.html