>> Lesson 2: Strive to achieve goals

From the orientation and vision, transport infrastructure, especially rural transport, remote areas in recent years have been invested in with focus, increasing regional connectivity; the province has identified priority as "going ahead" to create a strong momentum for economic and social development, gradually eliminating the gap between urban and rural areas.

Resolution of the people

By the end of 2020, the whole province had 736 bridges on rural roads, of which only 155 bridges were solidly built from Program 135, Investment Project on construction of people's bridges and management of local road assets... However, after review, localities still have 581 temporary bridges, old bridges and places without bridges over streams and creeks. This is a major "bottleneck" of the rural traffic system and disrupts the regional, inter-commune and inter-village traffic system every time there is a flood.

Immediately after the 17th Provincial Party Congress of Tuyen Quang, based on the assigned functions and tasks, the Department of Transport advised and proposed to develop a Project on concreting rural roads and building bridges on rural roads, period 2021 - 2025 to concretize the implementation of the breakthrough in the province's traffic infrastructure. The project was approved by the Provincial People's Council in Resolution No. 55/NQ-HDND dated November 20, 2020 (one month after the Provincial Party Congress). The policy of building bridges on rural roads is a correct decision, in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people, helping to connect rural roads smoothly, creating conditions and driving forces for economic development in ethnic minority areas, remote areas, and extremely difficult areas. The specific goal of Resolution 55 is to invest in building new general

Na Khan Bridge, Hong Quang Commune (Lam Binh) is built according to Resolution No. 55/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People's Council.

355 bridges on rural roads. Of which, in the period of 2021 - 2025, the province will complete the construction of at least 200 rural bridges in 7 districts and cities; the remaining bridges will continue to be invested in construction in the period of 2026 - 2030.

Comrade Tran Van Sang, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, said: Immediately after Resolution No. 55 was passed, based on the quantity allocated according to the annual plan, the Department of Transport sent a document requesting the People's Committees of districts and cities to review and register plans to implement the concreting of rural roads and build bridges on rural roads, at the same time, develop an outline, tasks and cost estimates for the implementation work, establish a model design, build norms... for the entire period of 2021 - 2025. The Department has presided over and coordinated with districts, cities and communes and towns to inspect the actual site, agree on the list of proposed bridge construction locations; synthesize reports for the Provincial People's Committee to consider, decide and complete investment preparation work to implement construction. For bridge projects on rural roads, the State invests 100% of the construction costs, and the People voluntarily clear the land for the construction of bridges, access roads and connecting roads. Therefore, the condition for investment is that localities registering to build bridges must hold meetings with the People, mobilize the People to donate land and agree on a plan for site clearance.

With correct policies, specific and methodical projects, clear implementation plans and most importantly, meeting the practical needs and aspirations of the people, Resolution 55 of the Provincial People's Council quickly entered into practice and received high support from all walks of life.

“REMOVE” ISOLATION

After nearly 4 years of implementing the Project of Concreting Rural Roads and Building Bridges on Rural Roads, phase 2021-2025, many disadvantaged localities of the province have "changed their skin" and taken on a new look.

Lung Oi Bridge, spanning Ong Chien stream connecting the road to 7 households and the production area of ​​nearly 40 Tay households in Dan Khao village, Chieu Yen commune (Yen Son) was completed and put into use at the end of 2023. Comrade La Van Tam, Secretary of the Party Cell of Dan Khao village shared: “In the past, whenever there was a flood, people encountered many difficulties in traveling. Many families were often isolated and separated for many days due to floods. I still remember in 2021, a family in the village had a sick person but because the stream water rose high and flowed strongly in the dark, they could not be taken to the hospital for treatment. Now that the province has invested in a sturdy concrete bridge, the worry of being separated during floods is no longer there. Even happier is that wherever agricultural products are produced, traders come to buy them, and children can go to school conveniently. The bridge has brought a new life to the people”.

Na Khan Bridge, Hong Quang Commune (Lam Binh) was completed from 3,000 m2 of cultivated land donated by 7 households in the village. Mr. Ma Van Le, Head of Na Khan Village, said: The village has 40 households living on the other side of the stream and must build a wooden bridge to travel, and almost every year the village has to mobilize people to rebuild the bridge due to floods. The family of Mr. Ma Dinh Vang, who donated over 300 m2 to build the road leading to Na Khan Bridge, helped the construction unit with food and accommodation. "My family and the people here have longed for the bridge, so when the province invested, my family volunteered to donate land so that the bridge could be built quickly. The province understands the suffering of the people, so the people must also support it" - Mr. Vang shared.

Traffic in Hong Quang commune has now changed a lot thanks to the bridge and road constructions according to Resolution No. 55. Comrade Phu Duc Lam, Chairman of Hong Quang Commune People's Committee said: "Implementing Resolution No. 55, Hong Quang commune has had 3 bridges built and put into use. Previously, when there were no bridges, people in Na Kham, Ban Tha, Pa Em, Khuoi Nga villages mainly waded across streams and over spillways. But in the rainy season, they had to wait for the stream water to recede before they could travel. Therefore, people's communication and travel encountered many obstacles. Now, with 3 new bridges, floods are no longer a fear for the people. It is true that Resolution No. 55 has removed the "bottleneck" in traffic for the highland commune of Hong Quang".

The concrete road to Bau Mountain in Phu Luong Commune (Son Duong) is a bright spot in implementing Resolution 55 in Son Duong. Party Cell Secretary and Head of Tran Kieng Village, Hoang Thi Phuong, said: “This is the steepest road, all gravel and water seeping down. Every time a truck carries acacia and eucalyptus wood from the forest down, it is very slippery. When it rains, it has to be exposed to the sun for at least 3 days before it can be used. That is why over 250 hectares of forest in Bau Mountain are always sold at 3 to 4 times cheaper than other places.” Therefore, the dream of having a hardened road has been the dream of 170 Cao Lan households here for many years. When the commune implemented Resolution 55, people contributed from 6 to 8 million VND, and households with less forest contributed more than 1 million VND. After 4 months of implementation, nearly 1 km of steep mountain pass road was completed.

With the efforts of sectors and localities, the whole province is expected to complete 900.88/1,080 km by December 31, 2024, reaching 83.81% of the resolution target, raising the rate of hardened village roads to 80%, hardened intra-field roads to 65%; completing the construction of 161/200 bridges, reaching 85% of the resolution. The bridges over streams, connecting difficult villages, concrete roads over mountains and through forests have opened up new developments in the journey of building new rural areas in each countryside. That is the value brought by Resolution 55 of the Provincial People's Council.