The project to renovate and repair Diep bridge at Km156+00 and Tra bridge at Km166+245 on National Highway 37, the section passing through Thai Nguyen province, will be implemented from December 2025. The project has a total investment of more than 33 billion VND from the state budget, invested by the Thai Nguyen Department of Construction.
Recorded on August 5, in the Diep bridge repair area, the expanded and newly built bridge piers and culverts have been completed. Currently, the contractor is constructing the bridge span, moving towards completing the bridge surface.
Vehicles passing through the Diep bridge area are currently moving in one direction through 1/2 of the old bridge surface. In the opposite direction, vehicles move on the temporary road across the stream according to the traffic diversion and instructions of the construction unit.
10km away, the repair of Tra bridge is also underway. The newly built pillars and abutments have been completed, and the contractor continues to construct and install new bridge spans.
According to local people, these are 2 key bridges on National Highway 37 connecting Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang provinces, with high traffic volume, mainly trucks and passenger cars. After many years of use, the bridge has deteriorated, posing a risk of unsafety.
The bridge surface peeled off, revealing the entire steel structure, wide open elastic joints, places bulging up, places sinking down. Every time a truck passes by, the bridge surface feels shaky. This repair is very necessary, ensuring safety for people traveling," said Ms. Duong Thi Yen, La Bang commune, Thai Nguyen province.
Diep bridge and Tra bridge were built in 1987, after decades of operation, many damages have now appeared such as cracked main beams, peeling bridge deck, exposed steel reinforcement, degraded road surface at the bridgehead, while traffic volume and vehicle load are increasing.
According to the design, the renovation and repair of these 2 bridges will replace the entire structure of the old bridge span with a new prestressed reinforced concrete girder structure, keeping and reinforcing the existing abutment and pier system.
At the same time, expand the bridge width from 8.5m to 13m, repair and expand the bridgehead road, complete the drainage system, sidewalks, railings, expansion joints, bridge bearings and fully supplement the signal system and road markings according to current standards.
Informing PV, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vu - Director of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Traffic Management, Maintenance and Construction Consulting Board (under the Thai Nguyen Provincial Department of Construction) said that the progress of construction, renovation and repair of Tra bridge and Diep bridge is currently about 80%.
Due to some issues related to site clearance, floods and unfavorable weather have affected construction work. Currently, the project has been extended for construction, and by October 2026, the items will be completed and put into operation," said Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vu.
