Recently, a provincial highway in Hainan that has not yet been completed and opened to traffic experienced a road collapse, sparking public concerns over the quality of the construction. The incident, where the foundation of the road collapsed, was widely circulated on social media, with speculations about the quality of the project.
Reported by Dafeng News under the Huashang Daily, on February 11th, a section of an under-construction provincial transport route in Boao Town, Qionghai City, Hainan Province, collapsed. The scene at the site showed that the section in question had not been put into use yet, with parts of the road visibly sinking and damaged. The collapsed area exposed the structure, revealing asphalt on the upper layer and crushed stones and soil beneath.
Authorities stated that the cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Public information indicated that there was no significant rainfall in the area in the week leading up to the incident. The road had not been opened for traffic, and there were no reports of heavy vehicles causing pressure or overload on the construction.
On February 12th, officials from the Hainan Provincial Highway Administration confirmed that the collapse occurred on a road known as “Jiuqu Road.” Information showed that Jiuqu Road is a provincial-level transportation project under construction, an essential part of Boao’s core area external traffic evacuation system. In 2024, it was listed as a key project for highway and water transportation in Hainan Province and construction approval was initiated. At the time of the incident, the project had not been completed or handed over to maintenance units, and it was not yet marked on maps.
The incident of a collapse occurring before the road was officially opened to traffic has raised doubts among the public about the quality of the construction. Some internet users have expressed concerns that the road might have been built with subpar materials, with fears of shoddy workmanship.
In response to these concerns, the Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation stated on February 26th that the collapsed section was affected by special geological conditions and there was no evidence of cutting corners or using inferior materials.
In recent years, various incidents related to infrastructure project quality issues have repeatedly made headlines in the media and become a focal point of public attention.
Dafeng Chen previously commented in the Epoch Times, stating that alongside the issue of shoddy construction is the corruption of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Shoddy construction is a manifestation of the problem, while corruption within the Party is at its core. Where there is shoddy work, there is almost always corruption – this has become an unwritten rule in the construction industry. Due to the deep-rooted corruption within the CCP, shoddy construction projects have never ceased.
It is crucial for authorities to address public concerns over construction quality and ensure that infrastructure projects are completed with high standards to guarantee the safety and well-being of the public.