When the district road is worse than the commune road

(Baonghean) - In the process of building the new rural areas, localities have mobilized human and material resources to build rural traffic; up to now, most of the inter-commune and inter-village roads in the lowland localities have been concreted solidly and cleanly. Therefore, in reality, many district roads are worse than commune, village and hamlet roads.

The district-managed road through Phuc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) is seriously degraded. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Current situation

Tan Ky district currently has 2,229 km of roads of all kinds, of which national highways are 76.5 km long, provincial roads are 33 km long, district roads are nearly 210 km long, communal roads are more than 428 km long, village roads are nearly 978 km long and intra-field roads are more than 536 km long. In general, many district roads are degraded, there is a lack of traffic signs and signals, and traffic safety equipment in some places is damaged and ineffective, causing difficulties in traveling and unsafety for traffic participants.

Over the past 5 years, by promoting internal resources and mobilizing capital, the people of Tan Ky district have concreted over 220 km of grade A and B concrete roads, creating favorable conditions for people to travel and develop the economy. However, compared to reality, there are still many dirt roads that are damaged and have not been graded or concreted.

District-level roads alone manage 13 routes with a length of nearly 210 km, of which 3 routes are seriously damaged and degraded, such as Huong - Phu - Hanh - Tien Ky - Dong Van route, starting point at Tan An commune intersection, ending point at Dong Van commune, about 30 km long, 6m roadbed, 3.5m wide road surface, 7 km of which has been paved; the remaining 23 km is dirt road, currently damaged, many sections can only be traveled by rudimentary vehicles in the dry season, in the rainy season most people have to travel by ox cart...

The same is true in Yen Thanh district. Most of the inter-district roads are in a state of serious degradation, while the village and hamlet roads are concreted according to the criteria of clean and beautiful new rural areas. Data from the district's Department of Industry and Trade shows that Yen Thanh has 12 district roads, with a total length of 261 km. Of these, 15 km have been concreted, 178 km are asphalted, 24 km are graded roads and 44 km are dirt roads. Many roads are seriously degraded, causing frustration among the people.

One of the most seriously degraded district roads in Yen Thanh is the town route to Duc Thanh commune. This route passes through the communes of Van Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Hau Thanh, Lang Thanh, Ma Thanh, Duc Thanh, about 15 km long. Although this route has been paved with crushed stone, due to long-term use and high traffic volume, the road surface has been damaged in many sections.

On rainy days, the road surface is like a pond, making it difficult for vehicles to travel; every year the district only maintains it by filling in potholes with soil, but after a short time everything returns to normal.

Mr. Dinh Van Duong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Thanh Commune said: The locality has reached the NTM finish line since 2014, therefore, most of the roads of the hamlets connecting to the main road of the district have been concreted, but many sections of the district road have been degraded for a long time, making people wonder why "district roads are worse than commune and hamlet roads"!

Road construction in Tan Ky district. Photo: Tran Chau

Financial difficulties

Mr. Vi Van Quang - Head of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tan Ky district said: Every year, Tan Ky district allocates a certain amount of capital to support some communes to overcome and ensure traffic for the people. The district has many financial difficulties, so it is taking advantage of capital from the Central and Provincial Road Maintenance Fund to overcome damaged and seriously degraded roads.

Mr. Nguyen Van Sang - Deputy Head of the Department of Industry and Trade of Yen Thanh district also said: Due to the limited budget of the district, every year the District People's Committee allocates a part of the budget to repair the road by filling the surface and sidewalks with soil. For example, in 2017, Yen Thanh district allocated 500 million VND to maintain the road.

Nghe An province currently has more than 3,782 km of inter-district roads and more than 11,882 km of inter-commune roads. According to Mr. Hoang Van Hue - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, most of the inter-district roads have been upgraded to level 4 and level 5 by the State in previous years, but are now degraded. Inter-district and inter-commune roads are managed by the district, so each year the district is responsible for allocating a budget for maintenance after they have been upgraded.

District roads are managed by the district, but funding is difficult and maintenance resources are limited, so many localities still suffer from district roads being worse than commune roads without any better way to "solve" them.

Xuan Hoang - Cam Tu