Bauxite trucks clog central highway

LAM DONG (VNS)— Upgrading National Highway 20 in the provinces of Dong Nai and Lam Dong is lagging behind schedule, creating a dangerous traffic situation with bauxite trucks tipped to reach 800 passages a day next month amid a confusion of roadworks.

The bauxite ore is already being carted to southern Dong Nai and when the Lam Dong-based Tan Rai Alumni Plant starts up next month, the road will become more crowded with bauxite trucks.

The delay was caused by the slow release of money from Government coffers, said the local Transport Department.

However, the upgrade of the 123-km stretch of the highway and 18.2km of provincial Route 725, kicked off in December last year under the build-transfer model to be finished by December next year.

Lam Dong Province's Transport Department said that so far work had been carried out on only 6km of the 18.2km provincial route 725 and a similar situation had occurred on the upgrade of National Highway 20.

Residents were concerned about traffic safety on the crowded and degraded road, said Truong Van Vo, head of the National Assembly deputy group from Dong Nai Province.

Vo told Dong Nai provincial newspaper that the number of accidents on highway 20 had risen by 24 per cent this year compared to the same period last year.

Lam Dong Province Transport Department director Truong Huu Hiep said an estimated 800 passages by bauxite trucks each day would create even more damage and pose greater safety risks on the degraded road.

Road reconstruction worth VND7.6 trillion (US$364 million) is designed for high load capacities – 1,600kg/sq cm – for lorries running at speeds of 60-80kph. — VNS