Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang has set up a team to examine whymany sections of new roads and highways have subsided so quickly afterbeing opened.

The team consists of 14 members led by Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong.

Thehead of the Science and Technology Department, Hoang Ha, and head ofthe Institute for Science, Technology and Traffic Transport Nguyen XuanKhang, are deputy leaders.

The team will study and proposesolutions to subsidence, often blamed on overloaded trucks. The team mayask experts from scientific institutions and related agencies to help.

Earlier, Minister Thang asked transport units to repair cracks and subsidence on highway projects.

A30km section of the National Highway 18 through northern Quang Ninhprovince, part of the East-West Boulevard project in Ho Chi Minh Cityand the HCM City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay highway through southern Dong Naiprovince have all been downgraded within a short time of opening.

Ata recent conference on cracks and subsidence on transport projects,experts blamed temperature changes, overloaded vehicles, constructionmethods and quality of building materials for the collapse of the roadsurfaces.

Nguyen Tuan Huynh, Deputy General Director of theCivil Engineering Construction Corporation No4 (Cienco 4) said thatcontractors were always under pressure over the quality of constructionworks.

Deputy Minister Dong said road subsidence happened in all countries, but at lower levels.

Hesaid that it was necessary to tighten control over contractors,building material suppliers and workers to make sure construction meetcriteria and standards.-VNA