Vientiane struggles to keep up with road maintenance

Photo: the trucks drive very fast in Vientiane narrow road



With heavy traffic, overloaded trucks and recent rains all taking their toll, many roads around Vientiane need urgent repairs to ensure traffic runs smoothly and safely during December's SEA Games and beyond.

“Our officials are working to repair damaged roads to ensure public safety and reduce road accidents,” Deputy Head of Office of the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, Mr Khambay Sitthixay, said on Tuesday.

He said department officials have set their sights on carrying out repairs to the road leading to Sikhottabong district's Vientiane Vehicle Control Unit next month.

The road, the condition of which has been deteriorating in recent years, is showing signs of constant wear and tear from vehicle traffic.

A stretch along Road No. 13 North, about seven kilometres from downtown Vientiane, is also in need of repair, he said.

Mr Khambay said officials had already carried out some work which had eased travel problems. Other roads were also on the list for repair.

“We are planning to repair the road from Dondaeng to Tanmixay villages in Chanthabouly, a stretch of road in the area of Nonsengchanh village in Xaythany district, and another between Khamsavath and Dongkhamxang villages in Xaysettha district,” he said.

Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority (VUDAA) is the organisation working to repair damaged roads and to seal others around Vientiane.

Some stretches of road in the four districts of Xaysettha, Sisattanak, Chanthabouly and Sikhottabong have become badly damaged from extended use, as well as increasing traffic including overloaded trucks.

Recently VUDAA repaired roads near the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos in Sisattanak district and near That Dam in Chanthabouly district.

In the 2007-08 fiscal year, VUDAA had a budget of 7 billion kip, a figure the authority sees as insufficient to repair all damaged roads and drainage systems around Vientiane.

By Meuangkham Noradeth
Vientianetimes