"Every time a vehicle passes, the bridge shakes as if it were about to break. Pedestrians had to stick to the citadel to avoid falling. If it does not pass through this bridge, there is no road to the commune center. Every rainy season, the bridge shakes, and when traveling carelessly, both people and vehicles fall into the stream, said Mr. Hoang Van Nho - a resident near the bridge in a bored manner.
According to Mr. Nho, Tan Viet suspension bridge is about 100m long, the bridge surface is about 2m, and was built nearly 20 years ago. Because it is the only bridge, connecting the main roads of the highland communes, the number of people and vehicles is crowded. Up to now, the wooden bridge surface has degraded, many loose connecting screws, rusted ropes...
In mid-2024, hearing that the bridge was invested with more than 5 billion VND to build a new one, the people of Quy Mong commune were happy to come forward. Everyone is looking forward to the day so that the bridge can be completed soon, helping people travel and transport goods more conveniently.
However, a few months later, when the bridge had just completed two pillars, the contractor, Yen Bai Bridge Construction Joint Stock Company, stopped. Up to now, the construction site is littered with construction materials, the two bridge piers have been drilled and standing bare in the middle of the deserted land, many iron blocks have begun to rust in the regret of the people in the highlands.
The old bridge is already weak, now a new bridge is being dug at the foot of the bridge, causing the risk of collapse to always exist. However, every day, people still have to risk their lives to cross the bridge and theads while trucks have to cross the large water below, despite the danger.
"This area often experiences heavy rain, rising stream water makes the suspension bridge even more unstable. People are afraid that if the old bridge is broken, people in this area (including many communes after the merger) will be isolated. Adults cannot go to the market to buy food, children cannot go to school" - Mr. Hoang Van Bien - another resident of Tan Viet village, Quy Mong commune - worried.
Talking to reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Pham Van Hoan - Chairman of Quy Mong Commune People's Committee - said: Many times in contact with voters, people have petitioned about the unfinished construction of Tan Viet Bridge, affecting travel. The commune has also proposed that the Tran Yen Construction Investment Project Management Board report to Lao Cai province to adjust the project and soon re-implement it.
"Seeing people walking across the suspension bridge, I was very impatient. It would be better if there were no new bridges for people to temporarily go, then it would be fine. Now the new bridge is built next to the old suspension bridge, so the foot of the bridge is greatly affected, and danger is always lurking" - Chairman of Quy Mong Commune People's Committee said.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung - Deputy Director of the Tran Yen Construction Investment Project Management Board - explained: "Previously, the construction of Tan Viet Bridge had a total investment of more than 5 billion VND, using the Tran Yen district budget. The initial plan was to take advantage of the steel bridge surface from To Mau bridge after storm No. 3 in 2024 to save costs. However, when received, the entire steel frame was curved and did not meet technical requirements, so it could not be installed, forcing the design to be adjusted. Currently, the board is preparing an adjustment dossier to report to Lao Cai province and requesting an additional funding source of about 3 billion VND to be able to continue implementation".
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, Tan Viet Bridge is currently too ahead of schedule, only about 45% of the volume has been completed and it is not known when specific time will be for resuming implementation.
