Hue Road Project Stalled for 8 Years, Costing Nearly $10 Million Amid Neglect

A road project in Hue, Vietnam, intended to connect Chợ Mai and Tân Mỹ, has languished in construction for eight years, with its completion date repeatedly pushed back. The nearly $10 million (195 billion VND) endeavor, which began in August 2018 with an expected three-year timeline, is now significantly behind schedule.

While the entire road surface has been asphalted and traffic lines painted, and even streetlights installed, the project's auxiliary elements remain unfinished. Gaps in the road's infrastructure include incomplete curbs, inadequate drainage systems, and neglected shoulders. The lack of sidewalks in the design has contributed to the current state, allowing weeds to flourish and trash to accumulate.

Local residents have voiced their frustration over the project's aesthetic shortcomings and prolonged delays. The area has become an unofficial dumping ground for household waste, with debris and dead trees further detracting from the surroundings. Piles of concrete curbs await installation, and some traffic signs have fallen over.

Ha Xuan Hau, director of the Hue City Investment and Development Project Management Board, acknowledged the issues. He stated that the absence of sidewalk designs contributes to the problem of weeds and garbage. The project is currently estimated to be 90% complete, and the city's People's Committee has granted an extension for its completion by the end of 2026. However, the project has faced penalties for delays in the past.

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Due to the project's design not including a sidewalk component, the unfinished roadside easily develops weeds and waste.