Proactive maintenance to keep traffic moving

These days, on National Highway 6C through Mai Son and Yen Son communes, construction crews are mobilising workers and machinery to complete the final items of a roadbed and pavement repair project.

Regularly present at the site to oversee construction, Do Xuan Hao, Director of Huu Hao Tay Bac Co., Ltd., said his company is repairing a 6-km section under a project running from January 2025 to September 2026. The project is now about 95% complete. It is mobilising workers and machinery to carry out the remaining work as scheduled, while closely controlling quality and ensuring traffic safety, with the aim of completing the project on time.

Alongside National Highway 6C, management and maintenance of the national and provincial road networks are being carried out regularly. Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Construction has appraised 16 road construction project dossiers and inspected the completion acceptance of 26 projects. The province has also maintained regular management and maintenance of all national and provincial road networks, while implementing seven urgent repair projects under the additional 2025 plan and seven repair projects in 2026, covering a combined 16.35 km.

In addition to road maintenance and repairs and the installation of traffic safety facilities, relevant agencies are working with local authorities to strengthen the management and protection of road corridors and address locations with potential accident risks.

A review found 28 locations on national highways and 55 on provincial roads that still pose potential traffic safety risks. There are also 256 school entrances requiring consideration for improvements to traffic organisation, including 72 on national highways and 184 on provincial roads.

The Department of Construction has proposed including projects to address these locations in the 2026-2030 medium-term public investment plan, while continuing to propose step-by-step solutions through annual road maintenance plans.

For rural transport, a review found that 1,814 km of roads across the province have yet to be paved or otherwise hardened. The province also has 261 pedestrian suspension bridges that have been in service for many years and have been exposed to floods, with many requiring renovation, upgrading or replacement.

The construction sector continues to work with communes and wards to pave and harden roads under the approach of “People contribute, the State supports,” linking transport development with the implementation of the 2026-2030 National Target Programme on New-style Rural Development.

Gradually completing the connectivity network

Beyond managing and maintaining existing roads, the province is also allocating resources to develop transport infrastructure with strong connectivity and the potential to drive socio-economic development.

Nguyen Son Hong, head of the Infrastructure Management Division at the provincial Department of Construction, said 10 projects have been included in the 2026-2030 medium-term public investment plan and have had investment proposals prepared under the province's transport infrastructure development plan. The projects have a combined length of more than 287 km and total estimated investment of over 11.1 trillion VND (426 million USD).

Two projects are already under construction, while investment proposals are being prepared for the remaining eight.

The projects focus on routes that connect localities, production areas, tourist destinations and major transport corridors, including Provincial Road 104 from Moc Chau to Tan Lap; Provincial Road 112 from Bac Yen to Lang Cheu; Provincial Road 102 from Tan Xuan to National Highway 43; Provincial Road 117C from Chieng So to Pung Banh; and Provincial Road 108 from Thuan Chau to Co Ma.

The construction of the Hoa Binh-Moc Chau Expressway - section running through Son La is also being accelerated.

Under the Van Ho site clearance component, construction has begun at four resettlement sites, with progress estimated at about 60%, while the relocation of power lines is about 90% complete. Site clearance has been completed for two rest areas and 32.33 km of the route, reaching 96.97%. In the Moc Chau area, site clearance has been completed in full.

For the transport infrastructure construction component, the total value of work completed is estimated at nearly 240 billion VND out of 3.482 trillion VND.

Alongside ongoing projects, the province is preparing for strategically important projects aimed at strengthening regional connectivity. These include widening the Hoa Binh-Moc Chau Expressway section in Son La from two to four lanes, with estimated funding of about 5.026 trillion VND.

The Moc Chau-Son La-Dien Bien Expressway’s Son La section will run about 182 km and have four lanes, with preliminary estimated funding of about 59.588 trillion VND.

The province is also continuing to coordinate efforts to attract investment in Na San Airport, with a view to completing its external transport network.

With a focus on developing transport infrastructure in a synchronised manner, improving regional connectivity and supporting tourism, urban development, industrial zones and border gates, the province is prioritising the repair and upgrading of National Highway 37 from Gia Phu to Co Noi; National Highway 43 from Gia Phu to Long Sap Border Gate; Van Yen Bridge on National Highway 43; Provincial Road 102 from Chieng Son to Tan Xuan; Provincial Road 104 from Moc Chau to Tan Lap; Provincial Road 101 from Van Ho to Quang Minh; Provincial Road 112 from Bac Yen to Lang Cheu; and Provincial Road 109 from Nam Pam to Ngoc Chien.

Each upgraded road and each hazardous location addressed contributes to the gradual completion of the transport network. The improvements will facilitate travel for local residents, shorten distances between regions, expand trade, connect production areas with markets, tourist destinations and border gates, and create momentum for Son La's socio-economic development./.