Why are 300 meters of the access road to Lang Giang Bridge still unfinished?

There are still 300 meters left unfinished due to land clearance issues.

On May 21st, a reporter from Giao Thong Newspaper was present at the road connecting Lang Giang Bridge to National Highway 161, but it was still in disarray due to a lack of available land.

Reportedly, the Lang Giang bridge project is invested by the Department of Transport of Lao Cai province, with a total investment of 258 billion VND. The bridge connects the two banks of the Red River between Xuan Tang ward and Thai Nien commune (Bao Thang district), Provincial Road 161 and National Highway 70.

The contractor for package 6 is Quyet Tien Construction Investment Corporation (which completed the Lang Giang bridge project). Currently, the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Transportation Works under the Department of Transport of Lao Cai province is finalizing the procedures for handover and commissioning.

Regarding the access road and railway overpass, Package No. 23 is being constructed by the Minh Duc and Lao Cai Inspection Joint Venture. According to the design, the section from Lang Giang Bridge to the railway overpass has a roadbed width of 25m and a road surface width of 15m; the section from after the railway overpass to the end of the route intersecting with Provincial Road 161 has a roadbed width of 33m and a road surface width of 15m; the railway overpass consists of one span 33m long and 19m wide.

Construction began on April 25, 2023, and was scheduled for completion on December 25, 2023. However, to date, the total value of work completed is approximately 46/55.6 billion VND (82.7% of the contract value). The remaining work on the roadbed, surface, drainage system, and auxiliary structures at locations from Km 0+457.5 to Km 0+757.6 is due to delays in land clearance.

This project is progressing slowly and remains unfinished because some households have not yet handed over the land.

The slow and unfinished construction of this project can be explained by several reasons. Among them, the compensation, land clearance, and resettlement issues have yet to reach a consensus between the government and some households.

Mr. Ly Van Minh (residing in Muc village, Thai Nien commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province) said: "After the heavy rains in early May, some houses were severely flooded, forcing residents to evacuate their belongings. Currently, the households are reluctant to relocate for land clearance due to disagreements over compensation costs and resettlement areas. After the flooding caused by the elevated road, Mr. Minh's family had to cover the back of their house with tarpaulins to limit water inflow, but it only helped to some extent."

Forced eviction will be carried out if the land is not handed over.

According to our investigation, only six households along this connecting road remain steadfastly in their homes. These residents say the resettlement area has been established and is not far from their houses. However, the most important issue is the incomplete electricity and water supply system. Therefore, moving there would create many difficulties for them.

Regarding the local authorities, Mr. Do Ba Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bao Thang District, Lao Cai Province, stated: "Currently, only a few households remain to be relocated to complete the connecting road. The local authorities are actively promoting and persuading the people to understand and share the common interests of the district and the province. We are striving to hand over the entire site to the construction unit by the end of June 2024."

Currently, two households, those of Ms. Vuong Thi Ut and Ms. Bach Thi Kim, are still unable to relocate due to issues related to resettlement.

The Land Development Center of Bao Thang District, Lao Cai Province, has completed the inventory of land, assets, trees, and crops for all 61 households, with a total cost of 23.7 billion VND, and has paid all 61 households. Currently, the local authorities have organized a resettlement lottery for 17 out of 18 households. Six households have already paid the resettlement compensation. Five land use right certificates have been issued to households affected by the project, including structures and crops.

There is still a problem with the household of Ms. Vuong Thi Ut, who built her house on agricultural land and was allocated resettlement land; however, the family argues that the compensation money is insufficient to cover the resettlement costs.

The People's Committee of Bao Thang district is currently carrying out propaganda and mobilization efforts, and the district has also sent documents to relevant agencies for verification. If the documents meet the requirements, enforcement measures will be taken according to regulations to hand over the land to the construction unit.

Mr. Chu Duc Hai, Director of the Investment and Construction Project Management Board of the Department of Transport of Lao Cai province, said: "The Lang Giang Bridge has been completed, and currently only about 300 meters of connecting road remain to be constructed. If the Bao Thang district government completes land clearance and hands over the land by the end of June 2024, we will actively accelerate the progress to complete this road by August 2024."

Here are some images taken by a reporter from Giao Thong Newspaper of the access road to Lang Giang Bridge on May 21st:

The drainage system has been installed, but some sections are still facing land acquisition issues and construction cannot proceed.

Many people and vehicles are facing extreme difficulties traveling along the route because 300 meters of it remain unfinished.

Some households still live in conditions where, during rainy weather, water and debris flow into their homes.

Mr. Ly Van Minh (residing in Muc village, Thai Nien commune, Bao Thang district) told a reporter from Giao Thong Newspaper that the reason he refuses to move to the new location is because the resettlement area lacks electricity and water systems.

Many residents are eagerly awaiting the completion and opening of the road to ensure convenient trade and transportation.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/lao-cai-vi-sao-duong-dan-cau-lang-giang-con-300m-chua-thi-cong-xong-192240523190723502.htm