Overloaded trucks are a major cause, damaging pavements and drainage structures, particularly in mountainous terrain with frequent heavy rains. In addition, several roads lack posted load and clearance limits, leaving traffic largely uncontrolled.

Roads into Thanh Nưa commune (the former center of Thanh Hưng commune) and the Lê Thái Tổ route from Noong Bua to Pú Tửu (phường Mường Thanh) are in severe disrepair: potholes and rutting, sections sunken into deep hollows, posing safety risks. Dust chokes the air in the dry season; mud bogs traffic in the rains, hampering travel, goods transport, and daily life. A key driver is heavy vehicle traffic hauling materials for construction projects.

Some provincial roads still have no posted load or clearance limits, allowing unrestricted passage. According to the province, several routes remain structurally adequate for current demand and thus have not been signed with load restrictions, for example: ĐT144 (Tủa Chùa - Nậm Nèn - Huổi Mí, mountain class V), ĐT141 (Nà Nhạn - Mường Phăng, 15.26 km, mountain class VI), and Rạng Đông - Phình Sáng (mountain class VI).

The absence of load signage increases the risk of damage and directly threatens road-user safety. To curb deterioration, provincial agencies have deployed measures: communication, reminders, inspections, sanctions, and weigh-stations. Notably, on August 8, 2025, the provincial People’s Committee issued a decision publishing the permissible axle/load and dimensional limits for roads province-wide. Each route is classified based on design standards, pavement and bridge capacity, and local topography and climate to determine the maximum vehicle loads allowed.

Publishing route-specific load limits protects infrastructure and provides a legal basis for enforcement, extending service life and saving maintenance budgets. According to Phạm Quốc Đạt, Chairman of the Tủa Chùa commune People’s Committee, alongside investment in roads, the commune works with relevant agencies on maintenance and on installing load/clearance signage, improving safety and raising compliance awareness. This is a key step to slow road degradation.

Following review, the Department of Construction has installed signs on certain roads and bridges. For example, ĐT146 (Búng Lao - Na Son), Km19+100 to Km33+800, class A, is signed at 13 tons due to design constraints. The Trại Đậu - Pú Nhung - Rạng Đông route (13km) is published at a roadway operating load of 6 tons and on-route bridge operating load of 13 tons, both limits refer to the vehicle’s total mass.

Bridges are also being checked and load-tested. At Nậm Mức Bridge (Km427+550, National Highway 6) and Mường Mươn Bridge (Km149+376, National Highway 12), tests showed current load-bearing capacity below design, requiring adjusted operating limits and appropriate signage. Nậm Mức Bridge now allows trucks with total mass ≤ 19 tons; tractor-semitrailers ≤ 22 tons; truck-trailers ≤ 23 tons. Mường Mươn Bridge allows trucks ≤ 23 tons; tractor-semitrailers ≤ 35 tons; truck-trailers ≤ 42 tons.

Beyond technical controls, the province emphasizes outreach to vehicle owners and carriers. Messaging highlights the damage caused by overloading, the high repair costs, and elevated crash risk, aiming to build voluntary compliance rather than relying only on penalties.

Freight driver Nguyễn Văn Tình, who often runs routes across the Điện Biên basin communes, says posted limits are his cue to be extra cautious. Complying isn’t just about avoiding fines; it also protects infrastructure and keeps everyone safer.

Sở Xây dựng notes that publishing axle/load and dimensional limits helps road users and stakeholders plan appropriate vehicles and routes. The publication does not replace on-site signage; drivers must obey posted load and clearance restrictions. Movements of oversize/overweight vehicles, superloads, cargo loading practices, and the issuance of special permits must follow the law.

Publishing load limits is more than a technical fix, it strengthens State management, clarifies responsibilities for vehicle owners, carriers, and the public, and provides clear thresholds for oversight and enforcement. With each road and bridge assigned explicit capacities, authorities can better monitor and act, while citizens and businesses can plan to comply. Most importantly, it is a foundational measure to extend asset life, conserve maintenance budgets, and build a more sustainable transport network.