At conferences, Japanese, Korean, American and Canadian scientists say that using cement-concrete in road construction is being applied effectively, which ensures stability, friendliness, does not pollute the environment, does not have to maintain, cost cheaper. However, development of this kind of road is not much, occupies 3% of the length of the whole road system.
According to development plan of Vietnam road, by 2020 and after 2020, construction of cement-concrete road surface follows the criteria: Ensure to optimize the cost by analysis of economy and technical targets in area, road…to encourage using of national cement, decrease import of building materials for road surface such as asphalt (asphalt and additives). Therefore, at the beginnings we can continue focusing on rural transportation roads, border patrol roads, roads in flood areas, and then step by step construct cement-concrete roads for high level roads and high ways.
Present state of Vietnam road traffic is improved clearly, every year we upgrade and construct over 1.000 kilometres of road, 10.000 metres of bridge, basic core routes are improved, developed effectively. At present total length of road of the country is over 256.000 kilometres. However, infrastructure of road traffic is bad, old, quality is low in general, and routes that have good quality are gathered at important, urgent works. Density of Vietnam highways that have high technology is lower than that of other countries in area and in the world. Local road system, especially in the farthest areas or at borders, island is not enough, cannot meet the needs of economy development, needs of transportation of the residents. Compare with other countries in the area, density and technical quality of traffic roads of our company are at low level in the area: Surface spread ratio is 31,2%, while that of Malaysia is 81,32%, of Korea is 76,82%, of China is 81,62%, of Japan is 77,7%, and of Thailand is 98,5%. With particular preeminent character, the kinds of concrete road that are most popular in the world are asphalt concrete road and cement-concrete road.
Cost of cement-concrete road construction is higher at the beginning but cost for maintenance is low; longevity is longer, especially at flood areas. Vietnam has the climate that often changes, has high rainfall, and high temperature in summer, strong solar radiation; these elements make longevity of roads decrease fast. In addition, cement industry is achieving 45 million tons/ year output and the output will increase up to 60 million tons in 2010. Therefore, using cement-concrete is not only increases the longevity of roads but also helps consuming national cement which is proposed that will be redundant in the next years.