Highway 217B, connecting Bim Son town - Ho Chi Minh road, is nearly 50km long and was built decades ago. It has now deteriorated. In addition, many sections are quite narrow and no longer meet actual needs, seriously affecting the socio-economic development of the localities where the road passes through.
Potential accidents from narrow roads
National Highway 217B connects Bim Son town to Ho Chi Minh road, passing through Thach Quang commune, Thach Thanh district (Thanh Hoa) with a total length of up to 49.7km. This is one of the vital traffic routes, contributing significantly to the circulation of goods and socio-economic development in the localities where the route passes. However, up to now, the road has revealed many limitations, no longer meeting the actual needs, causing many difficulties for the localities. Typically in the communes: Thanh Minh, Thanh Vinh, Thanh My, Thach Thanh district.
Traffic connection in the above communes to the district center and surrounding areas is mainly through National Highway 217B. In Thanh Minh, Thanh Vinh, and Thanh My communes, this is the only route and the only way to trade. Every day, workers going to work, students going to school, and trucks carrying goods from Ho Chi Minh road to Bim Son town, or vice versa, all travel on this route. Meanwhile, the width of the roadbed is about 6m, only enough for 2 large trucks to pass each other. In addition, people living and doing business on both sides of the road are quite crowded, so traffic is very difficult and there are many potential risks of traffic accidents. In particular, at the section passing through Thanh Vinh commune, the road surface has many locations that have been degraded and damaged, although the road management unit has patched and repaired them.
Ms. Bui Thi Minh - a resident of Tay Huong village, Thanh My commune said: After storms No. 3 and No. 4, the water level of the Buoi River rose, causing National Highway 217B to be flooded, many families could not buy food. The local government had to use boats to transport goods to support people. On a normal day, due to the narrow road, many vehicles passing by, collisions often occur leading to traffic accidents. "The road is narrow, the traffic volume is high, so it is very dangerous for road users. We have repeatedly made suggestions and recommendations to all levels, requesting to widen the road, but so far there has been no response" - Ms. Minh said.
Waiting for investment
Mr. Bui Van Thinh - Chairman of Thanh Vinh Commune People's Committee informed: In the commune, there are currently nearly 300 workers working in garment factories near the district center, combined with the travel needs of people, students and means of transport from Ho Chi Minh road through Thach Quang and Thanh Minh communes... causing traffic on National Highway 217B to become crowded and overloaded. Meanwhile, this road section has many damaged, degraded or sharp turns, limited visibility, high risk of causing unsafety for people and vehicles participating in traffic. During the rainy season, when the water level of the Buoi River rises, this road section is often flooded, causing traffic to be cut off, directly affecting the exchange of goods, rescue and relief.
“Not only Thanh Vinh commune but also people in communes where the road passes through all want the road to be upgraded and expanded soon. With a larger road, trade will be more convenient and people’s lives will certainly be improved in all aspects,” Mr. Thinh added.
In Thanh My commune, when the Buoi River water level rose to near alert level 2, many locations on National Highway 217B were flooded from 50cm to 70cm. During the sugarcane harvest season, trucks carrying raw sugarcane from the northwestern communes of the district to the Vietnam - Taiwan Sugar Company Limited in Van Du town operated busily, causing National Highway 217B to be overloaded, causing serious environmental pollution.
Regarding the above situation, Mr. Nguyen Tien Phuoc - Head of the Economic and Infrastructure Department, Thach Thanh District People's Committee said: Since the end of 2013, Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has sent a document proposing the Ministry of Transport to invest in upgrading and renovating National Highway 217B, phase 2026 - 2030 to reach the scale of a grade III road, 2 lanes and invest in the section from Gia Mieu intersection to National Highway 1A to reach the minimum scale of 4 lanes for motor vehicles. However, currently, the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025 is very limited, resources are mainly focused on important and urgent projects according to the principles and criteria of the National Assembly and the Government, so it is not possible to balance the capital allocation to invest in National Highway 217B as proposed by voters. To ensure traffic safety on the route, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Vietnam Road Administration to repair damaged roadbeds, road surfaces, traffic safety systems... to ensure safe operation and facilitate people's travel.
“Before the National Highway 217B was renovated and upgraded according to voters' recommendations, to ensure safe traffic for people as well as serve the local socio-economic development. In the immediate future, the District People's Committee has surveyed, designed the route, and made an estimate as a basis for proposing competent authorities to invest in building a National Highway 217B bypass through Thanh Minh, Thanh Vinh, and Thanh My communes with a length of 11.6 km. If invested, this route will not only reduce the load on National Highway 217B, but also gradually complete the regional traffic infrastructure, strengthen regional connectivity between the district center and communes in the northwest of Thach Thanh district to neighboring districts and to Hoa Binh province via Ho Chi Minh road.
Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tuyen-ql217b-thanh-hoa-xuong-cap-nghiem-trong-can-duoc-mo-rong-10297849.html
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