THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — Urban dwellers in Huế City have condemned the mess and chaos created by the installation of underground culverts in most city streets.

Many complained they could not figure out why the city did not complete each section before commencing new work.

Trần Văn Đăng, a resident living at the corner of Phan Bội Châu and Phan Chu Trinh streets said he put up with a muddy entrance on wet days and dust on sunny days.

Nguyễn Thanh Tùng, another resident in Phan Đình Phùng Street, said many motorbikes had slipped and fallen while driving on the rocky, slippery roads in the dark.

“I am fed up with this mess and feel pity for commuters who have been injured in falls," he said.

At these streets, the entire road surface has been excavated and covered with construction waste and material. Commuters have to sneak around the piles to move forward. Meanwhile, the air is also full of dust.

Busy main streets, such as Nguyễn Huệ and Lê Lợi, are also experiencing the situation, which is affecting thousands of commuters and families.

The impacts are even worse for those who run a business along the streets.

Nguyễn Ben, who has a barber shop in Hai Bà Trưng Street, said he had received fewer customers for two years since the work commenced.

“Blocked roads, big holes and muddy surfaces hinder customers from using my shop, resulting in a low income for me,” he said.

The spread of the excavations around the city puzzles most people. Many think work on each street should be completed before work on other roads begins.

“I can’t understand why the contractors do not finish the work, leaving the roads with rocky surfaces, dust and mess." said Lê Quang Tiến, a commuter from Kim Long Ward.

The situation is affecting local tourism as well. Nguyễn Văn Phúc, deputy director of the Department of Tourism, said some travel agents had sent complaints about the dusty roads. "The most were about work on Bùi Thị Xuân Street, where the excavated road hindered access to sightseeing places and accommodation facilities in Thủy Biều Ward," he said.

The issue was the top topic at a recent meeting of the People’s Council of Thừa Thiên- Huế Province, which includes Huế City. Cái Vĩnh Tuấn, the council’s deputy chairman told the meeting there should be a committee to monitor the work.

The project, which is funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), started in August, 2015, and aims to improve the disposal of waste water from city dwellers as well as rainwater by installing underground culverts.

According to the city authorities, excavations are being conducted at 80 sites in 11 wards lying on the southern bank of the Hương River.

A report by the city People’s Committee said the project was expected to be completed in 2019, a year behind the set schedule. — VNS