On August 23rd, Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation of Quang Nam province, stated that the department had recently sent a report to the Vietnam Road Administration regarding the exploitation, management, and repair of National Highway 14D.
In the report, the Department of Transportation of Quang Nam province emphasized the significance of National Highway 14D as a vital artery and a part of the East-West Economic Corridor 2. It plays a crucial role in the economic and social development, as well as the security and defense, of the region and Quang Nam province in particular.
Asphalt pavement of National Highway 14D peeling off, exposing the stone foundation, and sending dust flying into the air with every passing vehicle.
The 74.4-kilometer-long National Highway 14D in Quang Nam province was put into operation in 2004 (20 years ago) with low technical standards and a narrow road width, ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 meters.
From July 2023 onwards, a significant increase in the number of ore-carrying vehicles (with more than 5 axles and a total weight of approximately 48 tons) traveling from Laos to Vietnam through the Nam Giang border gate has been observed, with an average of 250 trips per day. This has resulted in rapid and continuous deterioration of the road, making it exceptionally challenging and costly to maintain and ensure traffic safety.
Additionally, there are about ten narrow-radius curves along the route that have not been improved, making it difficult for tractor-trailers to navigate. They often fall into the longitudinal ditch, causing traffic congestion. The road has peeled off most of its asphalt, exposing the stone foundation, and many sections have deteriorated to the point where only the earthen roadbed remains. This creates dust, causing environmental pollution and traffic hazards, negatively affecting the lives of the people in the five upland communes of Nam Giang district.
The Department of Transportation of Quang Nam province proposed that the Vietnam Road Administration advise the Ministry of Transport to allocate funds for immediate repairs to ensure traffic safety and minimize the impact on the lives of the local people.
People struggle to commute on the dilapidated road.
Furthermore, the Department of Transportation of Quang Nam province requested the early implementation of the project to upgrade and renovate National Highway 14D uniformly, with a total investment of approximately VND 3,400 billion.
Regarding National Highway 14D, on March 28, the Ministry of Transport sent a dispatch to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment regarding the proposal to adjust the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period to address construction debt, recover advance payments, and allocate funds for urgent tasks and projects that have completed investment procedures.
Clip: The hardship of traveling on National Highway 14D
In the dispatch, the Ministry of Transport requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to synthesize and report to the Government, the Prime Minister, and the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to supplement the medium-term capital plan for the 2021-2025 period for one project and 19 investment preparation tasks for important and urgent projects that have been directed by the National Assembly, the Government, the Prime Minister, and competent authorities, from the remaining medium-term capital balance.
Among the 19 investment preparation tasks for important and urgent projects as mentioned above, there is the project to improve and upgrade National Highway 14D in Quang Nam province.
The proposed funding source for the implementation of the project to improve and upgrade National Highway 14D is VND 4,612 billion from the central budget.
Previously, the NLD newspaper had published numerous articles highlighting the extremely critical deterioration of National Highway 14D in Quang Nam province. This situation has been particularly prominent since May 2023, as the road bears the burden of hundreds of daily trips of vehicles transporting bauxite ore from Laos, transiting through Vietnam’s ports in Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Thua Thien-Hue provinces for export to China.
On December 20, 2023, the Government Office issued a document conveying the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, requesting the Ministry of Transport to propose a plan to upgrade and renovate National Highway 14D from the medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period, which has been allocated to the ministry, ensuring effectiveness and preventing waste and negativity.
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