The desire to become a reality
In mid-July, present at the Sim San bridge construction site, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters recorded the urgent construction atmosphere. The sound of machinery echoed in the mountains and forests, workers were busy completing the final items to bring the bridge to completion on schedule.
Sim San Bridge spans the stream of the same name, a unique traffic route connecting the center of Y Ty commune with three border villages Sim San 1, Sim San 2 and Hong Ngai. This is also a road that hundreds of households have to travel through every day to school, health station, market and transport agricultural products.
Few people have forgotten the image of the bridge being swept away by floodwaters twice in succession after heavy rains in the 2024-2025 period.
Each time, more than 300 households are almost isolated from the outside, and their travel depends on temporary bridges or waiting for the water to recede.
Mr. Tan Phu Tin, Head of Sim San 1 village, said that for many years, people have always lived in a state of anxiety every time the rainy season comes.
Just a few hours of heavy rain and everyone is worried that the water will rise and the bridge will be swept away. People who want to go to the commune center have to wait, sometimes they have to return because they cannot cross the stream. Now seeing the concrete bridge about to be completed, people are very excited," Mr. Tin shared.
According to people, the new bridge will help bring agricultural products such as rice, corn, vegetables, and medicinal herbs to the market more conveniently, and at the same time create conditions for tourists to access destinations in Sim San and Hong Ngai.
Information from the Economic Department of Y Ty commune, Sim San bridge has a total investment of 12 billion VND, of which Thien Tam Fund supports 8 billion VND, and the provincial budget supplements 4 billion VND.
The project is built with reinforced concrete and prestressed reinforced concrete, 37.1 m long, 7.5 m wide, started in August 2025 and is expected to be completed before October 30, 2026.
Through records, to date, many main items of Sim San bridge have been basically completed. The construction unit is focusing on completing the bridge deck, railings, access roads and auxiliary items to soon hand over and put them into use.
Representatives of Thao Nguyen Construction Trading Co., Ltd. (the construction unit) said that the construction process encountered many difficulties due to the rugged terrain, materials had to be transported from afar, while the weather in the highlands was erratic.
However, the contractors have mobilized more manpower and equipment to compensate for the progress, determined to complete the project as soon as possible.
Expecting to open the way for border region development
Talking to reporters, Mr. Duong Xuan Huu - Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Y Ty commune said that Sim San bridge is a particularly important traffic project for the people of three villages Sim San 1, Sim San 2 and Hong Ngai, because this is the only road connecting the area with the commune center.
After the bridge was swept away by floods twice, the investment in building a solid concrete bridge has received consensus and great expectations from the people.
According to Mr. Huu, the commune regularly sticks to the construction site, coordinates with the construction unit to remove difficulties in site clearance, weather and transportation of materials to ensure progress.
Up to now, the project has entered the completion phase, and units are focusing manpower and machinery to put the bridge into use soon.
When the bridge is completed, people's travel will no longer be interrupted every rainy and flood season. This will also be an important condition to promote agricultural trade, develop community tourism, and contribute to ensuring national defense and security in border areas," Mr. Huu emphasized.
The locality expects that along with the transportation system being gradually completed, the potentials of community tourism, natural experiences and cultural identity of the Mong and Dao people in Sim San and Hong Ngai will be exploited more effectively.
In the late afternoon, when the sunlight covers Sim San valley, groups of workers are still diligently working on the new bridge.
After being swept away by floods twice, the concrete bridge is gradually taking shape, bringing hope for a safe and sustainable traffic route, helping people in the Y Ty border area feel secure to travel, produce and gradually rise up to develop.
