What should be done to ensure roads are properly maintained?

Every year the government spends a lot of money on road upgrades. Last year saw the opening of an expressway, while the road between Tanmixay and Sikert and other roads were upgraded. But many streets around the city remain in poor condition. Vientiane Times ask for opinions on ways to maintain roads so that they last for longer.

Mr Manit Saensouphan, a resident of Pakngum district, Vientiane: Every road user should make an effort to keep new roads in good condition. Drivers should not drive at excessive speeds and should do their best to avoid accidents which always leave debris and can damage road surfaces, signs and barriers. Truck loads should be well covered and not overloaded with dirt and stones that make a mess. Large trucks should drive at slower speeds because they are much more likely to damage road surfaces than smaller vehicles. I use the new expressway to get to the city centre each day and I’m very happy with it. I suffered a great deal getting to the city before and life is so much easier now that we have this wonderful new road. People living along the expressway, and all road users, should stop to think before they throw rubbish out of car windows or do anything else that may be detrimental to the overall condition of the road.

Ms Vong Sivanxay, a government official in Xaythany district, Vientiane: I think it’s very important that we preserve the new expressway as best we can. We’ve waited many years for it to be finished and had to put with many problems while it remained unsurfaced. During that time it was dirty the whole year round.  In the dry season it was dusty and when it rained it was muddy and there were potholes and loose stones everywhere. Now it’s very clean and pleasant to use. I’m happy because the new road has had a big impact on our lives. Driving has never been as fast or comfortable as it is now and it feels much safer.

Mr Phisit Vanmala, a resident of Khammuan province: Paved roads make our lives much easier. I think everyone should put in time to clean and maintain roads so that they remain in good condition. I enjoy using the new road that passes through Khammuan and in the dry season I sell some of my vegetables by the roadside. Business used to be extremely poor because the road was dirty and difficult to drive on.  There are definitely more people coming to this area now that the road here is good, so my trade has improved. The other thing about the new road is that all the houses and buildings along it look much nicer now that they are not continually covered in dust.

Mr Khamla Duangmala, a government official in Vientiane: Good roads shorten travel time into cities for people in rural areas, as well as within Vientiane. More and more people need good roads to get to and from work. A new road always benefits the businesses and homes that sit alongside it. I also think it makes the development of villages in the area much easier. We should all do our best to maintain roads so that they stay in good condition for as long as possible. People need to be careful when driving and make sure they don’t go too fast. It’s when people travel at high speeds that the worst damage is done to roads. Avoiding accidents helps everyone save time and money in the long run so motorists really do need to be careful.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update March 10, 2022)