Many infrastructure bottlenecks in Yen Trung commune need to be resolved soon.

Pressure on the "backbone" 542E

Provincial Road 542E originates from Nghi Loc commune (formerly Quan Hanh town, old Nghi Loc district) and leads to the center of Yen Trung commune. This is considered a vital transportation route, serving as the backbone connecting National Highway 1A through Nghi Loc commune with Hung Nguyen commune, with a large portion of its length running through Yen Trung. Following the administrative merger, the surge in travel and trade has caused the road to become overloaded.

Observations in the central area of ​​the commune show that traffic becomes congested during peak hours. Most worrying is the section from Hến Market to Hưng Yên Nam 8 hamlet – considered a "bottleneck." This short stretch of road houses three schools with thousands of students, along with the commune's administrative headquarters.

During rush hour, groups of students have to weave their way through streams of motorbikes, cars, and even trucks carrying construction materials. Mr. Nguyen Viet Huong (Hamlet 3B, Yen Trung Commune) expressed his concern: "Currently, Provincial Road 542E passing through our area is very narrow, while the volume of traffic is heavy. Every time two trucks pass each other, motorcyclists have to climb onto the sidewalk. We only hope that this road will be widened soon so that our children can travel more safely."

Voters in Yen Trung commune have repeatedly petitioned the Provincial People's Committee and relevant agencies to conduct a survey and develop a project to expand provincial road 542E, especially the section passing through the commune center. They argue that if this "bottleneck" is not resolved, not only will people's lives be affected, but the socio-economic development goals after the merger will also be difficult to achieve as expected.

Consequences of unfinished construction projects

Not only is provincial road 542E in poor condition and narrow, but in fact, many roads in Yen Trung commune that were under construction before the establishment of the two-tiered local government system are still unfinished.

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Currently, there are several unfinished projects in the area that the local authorities are urging to be implemented. These include a section of road connecting Provincial Road 542E to Phuc Loc commune, approximately 800 meters long. Previously, Hung Trung commune was the investor, but it has only reached the stage of laying crushed stone. After the two levels of local government began operations, the commune contacted the contractor to complete the road surface construction, ensuring safety for road users. Another example is the rescue and relief road to Khe Ngang dam (formerly in Hung Yen Bac commune), with an investment of over 40 billion VND. Currently, the project is only about 60% complete, with many components still pending.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thong - Head of the Economic Department of Yen Trung Commune

Observations show that after the rains before Tet (Lunar New Year), the road surface turned into slippery, muddy patches. This situation is worsened by the fact that the drainage system along the route is not functioning properly, causing rainwater to accumulate and not drain quickly enough. When vehicles pass by, mud and water splash everywhere, making travel even more difficult. According to residents, approximately 1,000 meters of drainage ditch along Provincial Road 542E cause flooding for many households whenever there is heavy rain. The water rises quickly, overflowing into yards and houses, damaging property and disrupting daily life.

In the hamlets of the former Hung Trung commune, which are low-lying areas, the situation is even more difficult. During the rainy season, water from upstream flows down, overflowing the Nha Le canal and causing widespread flooding. In some years, the water rises so quickly that many inter-hamlet roads are submerged, almost paralyzing traffic.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Thong, upgrading transportation infrastructure in the area is one of the local government's top priorities. Besides the narrow Provincial Road 542E, many projects are still under construction due to the transition period following the implementation of a two-tiered government system.

Regarding the rescue and relief road project to Khe Ngang dam, according to Mr. Thong, additional funding was allocated in 2025. However, due to the end of the year, the construction unit has not yet resumed work and the funds have been transferred to 2026. Currently, the commune is actively petitioning the competent authorities to expedite the completion of these projects.

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The management unit has taken note of the suggestions from the residents of Yen Trung commune. However, the section of road from Hen Market (formerly in Hung Yen Bac commune) to Hung Yen Nam 8 hamlet (formerly in Hung Yen Nam commune) is not yet planned for upgrading or expansion. Upgrading and expanding the road requires funding and inclusion in the medium-term investment plan. In the meantime, to ensure traffic safety, the management unit has installed warning signs indicating densely populated areas, school signs, and speed limit signs.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Truong - Head of the Road Maintenance Management Board of Nghe An Province

It is clear that the merger of administrative units and the operation of a two-tiered local government is a sound policy aimed at streamlining the apparatus and improving management efficiency. However, along with the new development space comes the urgent need for synchronized infrastructure, especially transportation – the "lifeblood" of development.

For Yen Trung, the narrow roads, unfinished construction projects, and muddy conditions during the rainy season are not just technical or financial challenges. They also represent the people's expectations of the new government. When these "bottlenecks" are removed and projects are completed on schedule, the appearance of the merged commune will truly brighten, creating a solid foundation for long-term breakthroughs ahead.