Mindful that a major cause of traffic accidents is the degradation of transport infrastructure and the existence of black spots, the Department of Transport gives special priority to construction, management, and maintenance of traffic systems to enhance traffic safety, in addition to boosting public knowledge of traffic laws, enhancing supervision of traffic behaviours, tightening control over parking lots and means of transport, and overseeing training and testing of drivers.
Mr Pham Quang Hai, Director of Quang Binh Department of Transport, said, in 2010, the department directly managed investments and prepared investments for 53 new projects of building, upgrading and repairing traffic works and planning traffic development. Investments were funded by central and local budgets and ODA sources. The transport sector received VND521.18 billion in 2010, an increase of VND77.754 billion, or 18 percent, over 2009. Specifically, the centrally funded capital accounted for VND249.436 billion, up VND93.205 billion, or 82 percent, over 2009; locally sourced capital was VND236.47 billion, up VND16.395 billion, or 7 percent, against 2009, and the fund for Rural Transport Project 3 was VND35.274 billion, a decrease of VND31,846 billion, or 47 percent, against 2009.
Many centrally, locally and internationally funded projects are being completed as expected to serve the travel demand of local people and spur socioeconomic development. Typical projects include the bypass road for Dong Hoi City; Hai Thanh Bridge; road and bridges to Chau Hoa commune; road to Thuan Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district; road to Quang Hai commune, Quang Trach district; road to Lien Trach commune, Bo Trach district; Nhan Trach - Quang Phu Road; Provincial Road 10; and World Bank-funded rural road development projects. Currently, the province is carrying out many important projects like a 60-metre wide section of the North - South Road in Bao Ninh commune, Dong Hoi City; Mai Thuy - An Thuy Road, Le Thuy district; Trung Quan Bridge, Quang Ninh district; Van Hoa Bridge, Tuyen Hoa district; and Provincial Road 565 (formerly Provincial Road 16) to Thuong Trach commune, Bo Trach district.
To ensure timely progress and guaranteed quality of investment projects, the Department of Transport tightens its management and supervision over transport projects in the province. It also advises provincial authorities to carry out projects in the locality. It especially ensures openness and transparency of investment projects and selection of qualified contractors.
With respect to the function of managing and maintaining transport infrastructure, the Department of Transport is assigned administer 186.7 km of national highways, 335 km of provincial roads and 17.9 km of urban roads. As complex weather and flooding destroy and degrade roads, the traffic volume is increasing and exceeding infrastructure capacity, so the entire transport sector has to double their efforts and determination to keep traffic routes open. Although river and stream ways are shallow and deposited during rainy seasons, the sector still manages to keep the continuity of vehicle movements.
Thanks to the persevering efforts of all related organs and localities in the province, traffic death toll in Quang Binh in 2010 dropped 3.5 percent from 2009, while injuries sank 3.9 percent. Once traffic infrastructures are completed, traffic order and safety are believed to be strengthened.
An Toan
Vietnamese
