Bottlenecks and solutions

The provincial bureau admitted that construction faces problems, such as a shortage of funds, poor road conditions, a lack of bridges and incomplete safety measures.

But despite these problems, the provincial government is determined to overcome difficulty and achieve the goal of "connecting each village with cement/asphalt highways" this year.

To ensure rural highways' quality, the provincial communications bureau required that 80 percent of the projects reach the "Excellent" or "Good" levels.

They also set a clear and strict standard for rural highways. For example, each highway should be at least 3.5 meters wide on the surface and 5.5 meters on the roadbed.

To solve the problem of inadequate maintenance on rural highways, the provincial communications bureau drafted the Regulation on the Reform of Rural Highway Maintenance System, which took effect on November 16 last year.

Now the government is actively promoting the legislation of the province's first rural highway management regulation.

The provincial People's Congress is expected to include the regulation into its legislation plan for 2007.

"A shortage of funds has become the biggest bottleneck for rural highway construction in Henan Province," said Song Huadong, vice-director of the province's highway bureau. "However, where there is a will, there is a way."

Song said local governments at all levels have tried all possible means to collect money for highway construction, in addition to asking for funding from the central government.

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