Cho Bridge in Phu Trach Commune (Quang Tri Province) was built in 1992 and is severely damaged, posing a potential risk to the safety of people passing by every day.
Cho Bridge is 117m long, nearly 5m wide, spanning the upper reaches of the Thai River, and has been a vital traffic route connecting the residential area with the commune center for many years.
According to the People's Committee of Phu Trach commune, the bridge has a structure of 2 reinforced concrete pillars on both banks, while the 10 pillars in the middle are made of stone. After more than 30 years of use, combined with the impact of floods, most of the bridge items have seriously degraded.
Many layers of mortar around the bridge piers were eroded, exposing the foundation. The bridge abutment was swept away by water, creating a large frog jaw opening. The bridge surface has many peeling concrete points, exposing rusty steel reinforcements.
People living near the bridge said that the bridge is located in the upstream, so the rainy season is very strong, causing it to damage faster. Although there are signs prohibiting cars, people and students still have to travel there every day.
Chairman of Phu Trach Commune People's Committee Pham Minh Canh said that the locality has installed signs prohibiting cars from circulating, only allowing bicycles and motorbikes. However, due to the bridge being seriously degraded and unable to be repaired, it was forced to be completely rebuilt to ensure long-term safety.
The estimated cost of building a new bridge is more than 60 billion VND. The local government is proposing that the Provincial People's Committee consider supporting capital to soon implement the project to build a solid bridge, ensure safe traffic for people and students, serve production and stabilize their lives.
