Suffering from no road after the highway opens

Binh Thuan Expressway connecting Phan Thiet with Dau Giay and Vinh Hao is open to traffic, but the underpass, overpass, and residential roads along the route are slow to be completed, causing frustration among local residents.

For over 10 days, nearly a hundred households in Ma Lam town, Ham Thuan Bac district, have been unable to drive through rice fields and dragon fruit plantations near Ham Phu commune because of the barrier of the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway. Meanwhile, the residential road next to the expressway and the Cau Re underpass at this location is still unfinished. The road embankment is uneven and has not been compacted, and is flooded. They have to park their motorbikes in nearby dragon fruit gardens and then walk across.

The underpass and the access road along the highway in Ma Lam town were under construction and flooded on May 26. Photo: Viet Quoc

When there is heavy rain, the water rushes in, causing the underpass to be deeply flooded, cutting off the entire area (because the underpass is lower than the surrounding fields and fields). The water level sometimes rises up to 1.5 meters. Many people do not dare to wade across, unless there is an urgent need to take the risk.

"I know it's dangerous, but the fields are left there with no one to look after them," said Pham Quang Thanh, 57, after leaving his motorbike on the bank, taking off his long pants and hanging them over his shoulder, wading through a flooded tunnel to visit the hut and 5 acres of fields being cultivated on the other side of the highway.

Not only in Ham Thuan Bac district, but also people living near the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway passing through the districts from Tuy Phong to Ham Thuan Nam, also face similar difficulties. More than a dozen overpasses and residential roads along the expressway have not been completed yet.

Moving south, people living and farming on both sides of the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay highway in the two districts of Ham Thuan Nam and Ham Tan (about 54 km) are even more frustrated, because the highway has been inaugurated for more than a month but the construction of the residential road and overpass is still sluggish.

Mr. Pham Quang Thanh wades through a flooded underpass on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway on May 26. Photo: Viet Quoc

Mr. Le Duy Cuong, a farmer in Ham Cuong commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, has two hectares of dragon fruit on the other side of the highway. Normally, the distance to his farm is only about 2 km, but since the highway opened, he has had to take a detour along National Highway 1 for nearly 10 km because the overpass has not been completed. "During this rainy season, if they don't finish, the dirt road along the highway will be muddy and even more difficult to travel. When the dragon fruit is harvested, it will be very difficult to call traders to buy," said Mr. Cuong.

More than 15 km away, people in Tan Lap commune have repeatedly reported to the local government because for more than a month, they have had great difficulty in transporting agricultural products. In particular, two tunnels through the commune are often flooded when it rains; two overpasses on the highway and some items have not been completed; especially 26 residential roads along both sides of the highway are still unfinished.

Mr. Nguyen Loc, Chairman of Tan Lap Commune People's Committee, said that the delay in completing the overpass and access road after the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet Expressway opened to traffic has made many people angry. The locality has sent a document requesting the expressway project management board to direct the contractor to quickly complete the construction items, to soon stabilize the people's travel and transportation of agricultural products.

The overpass over the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway in Ham Cuong commune, Ham Thuan Nam district is not yet completed. Photo: Viet Quoc

Mr. Dang Hung Thai, Director of the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet Expressway Project Management Board, said that he had noted the feedback from local residents. The contractor is focusing on constructing the remaining items after the main expressway opens to traffic. "The construction progress of the overpass and the residential access road of the project has reached about 60%, and is expected to be completed by the end of June, with roads for people to use," said Mr. Thai.

Similarly, Mr. Pham Quoc Huy, Director of the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Expressway Project Management Board, also said that contractors in this project are also rushing to complete construction, aiming to complete all residential roads and overpasses on this expressway section before June 30.

"The weather is not favorable due to heavy rain, making it difficult to transport materials, construction vehicles are restricted from entering the highway, and have to take detours, but we will try to complete the project on schedule," Mr. Huy affirmed.

Vietnam

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