Determine eligibility for operation
On March 27, an inter-sectoral working group led by Mr. Tran Ngoc Son - Deputy Director of Quang Tri Provincial Department of Construction came to inspect and assess the safety conditions of the Trieu Do civil pontoon bridge.
The inspection team includes representatives of the Provincial Police, Nam Dong Ha Ward People's Committee, Trieu Binh Commune People's Committee and Quang Tri Inland Waterway Management Unit. The members conducted a field inspection of the current status of Trieu Do pontoon bridge, focusing on the structure, anchor system, lighting and safety conditions serving people passing through.
After the inspection, the units determined that the bridge ensured conditions for operation. However, the inspection team also pointed out some shortcomings that need to be immediately overcome such as the buoy support system being rusty, the risk of affecting structural durability; the lighting system needs to be reviewed to avoid leaks due to contact with the iron frame and water environment; adding lifebuoys; replacing burning light bulbs and reinforcing cables anchored to the bridge abutment.
Representative of Quang Tri Provincial Police, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department also agreed with the contents to be overcome, emphasizing the factor of ensuring waterway traffic safety during the rainy and flood season and preventing risks for people.
According to the leader of the Department of Construction, the inspection results showed that the pontoon bridge has a solid linkage, and the basic structure is guaranteed. Some locations with rust need reinforcement; diving buoys in some cases are punctured and need to be replaced; the bridge deck is solid but there are gaps that need to be repaired to ensure safety.
Request to overcome existing issues within 5 days
Mr. Tran Ngoc Son affirmed that through actual inspection, the bridge is eligible for people to travel by bicycle and motorbike. However, items such as bridge railing, electrical wiring system, buoy support positioning frame, connecting screws, anchor cables and traffic signs at both ends of the bridge need to be reinforced, supplemented, and fully repaired.
Mr. Son said that Trieu Do pontoon bridge has temporarily stopped operating for about 2 weeks, causing no small impact on people's lives, especially students. Therefore, he proposed reopening the bridge in the afternoon of March 27 to serve travel needs and the units participating in the inter-sectoral delegation all agreed.
However, the inspection team requested the investor to commit to completing the remediation of all existing problems within 5 days as required. This is a mandatory condition to ensure safe and long-term bridge operation.
Mr. Le Dinh Uynh - the manager of Trieu Do pontoon bridge said that he will complete the requirements within 5 days, and at the same time make a commitment to ensure conditions according to the design to send to relevant agencies to serve the supervision work.
The bridge has been operating for more than 20 years and always ensures safety for people and vehicles passing through. When it is reopened, not only will we have revenue but people will be more convenient, especially students will be less vất vả" - Mr. Uynh said.
At 3:30 PM on the same day, barriers at both ends of the bridge were removed, and people could walk normally.
Previously, as Lao Dong Newspaper reported, Trieu Do pontoon bridge had to temporarily stop operating due to procedural obstacles, greatly affecting the lives of people in Trieu Binh commune and surrounding areas. Every day, about 1,000 people cross the bridge, mainly farmers, students and workers.
Trieu Do pontoon bridge was formed from 2002–2003 by people contributing capital to build, spanning the Thach Han River, connecting Trieu Binh commune with Nam Dong Ha ward. This is an important traffic route, serving travel, transportation of goods and learning for local people.
When the bridge "closes", people are forced to go around Dai Loc bridge, about 10km further, increasing travel time and costs, generating many inconveniences in living and production.
The restoration of bridge operation is also facing difficulties due to the lack of consensus on how to determine the type of project. The Department of Construction believes that this is a "floating bridge" type, so it is not subject to registration, while the Trieu Binh Commune People's Committee believes that traffic projects need to be managed more closely. The difference in understanding, along with legal loopholes due to old regulations being abolished but no new guidance, has caused the handling to be prolonged.
Faced with the above situation, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Phong Phu signed a document establishing an inter-sectoral inspection team to comprehensively review the bridge's current status. The inspection results were requested to be reported to the Provincial People's Committee before March 30, as a basis for considering allowing the bridge to operate again in accordance with regulations.
