Multiple damaged locations
Regarding the information reported by Lao Dong newspaper, on October 3, the Department of Transport of Quang Binh province informed that after an on-site inspection at the Song Thai bridge (Quang Kim commune, Quang Trach district), all the bridge piers had many cracks along the body; the concrete of the pier body was seriously damaged by saltwater intrusion.
In particular, pillars T3, T4, T5 have peeled off, many concrete locations have large cracks exposing the steel inside, and with the naked eye, the main steel has been heavily rusted.
Regarding the bridge abutment, the mortar at abutment M2 was eroded, exposing the stone surface in many places. The expansion joints of the bridge deck were peeling off in many places, causing water to accumulate, and many places were cracked, causing the beams and bearings to get wet when it rained; the rubber expansion joints with steel reinforcement were peeled off, severely damaged, not ensuring smooth traffic on the bridge.
Realizing that the current state of damage to the Song Thai Bridge is showing signs of danger, the Department of Transport of Quang Binh province has taken immediate actions to ensure safe operation.
Install two static restraint frames at both ends of the bridge to prevent vehicles with loads exceeding the current load capacity of the bridge and install restriction signs: clearance (2.5m), load (5 tons), distance between vehicles (100m).
Coordinate with local authorities and relevant units to propagate, regulate and guide appropriate traffic flow; monitor load-bearing parts and damaged locations to detect and propose timely solutions; strengthen patrolling, control and handling of overloaded vehicles crossing the bridge.
No more completion records
A representative of the Quang Binh Department of Transport added that the Song Thai Bridge was completed in 1998 and handed over to the district for management. In the 2015-2016 period, this road was upgraded to a provincial road, at which point the completion records were no longer available.
This makes it difficult for the unit to determine the design, construction of the bridge, how many piles... From here, it is easy to check and repair. This representative added that the load capacity of the Song Thai bridge is only 10 tons.
“In the short term, we will reinforce and check the standards of the bridge so that people have a place to move. The current economic conditions are increasingly developing, many large trucks pass by, so if we consider the long term, we need to build a new bridge to meet the needs of the people” – a representative of the Department of Transport proposed.
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, Song Thai Bridge is located at Km3+010, Road 558B, in Quang Kim Commune (Quang Trach District, Quang Binh Province). The bridge is over 100m long, with 6 spans, each span is arranged with 3 reinforced concrete beams, built in 1996. The bridge is seriously degraded, making people worried when traveling back and forth.
According to observations by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, the bridge surface is peeling and cracking, and the expansion joints made of reinforced rubber are severely damaged. The two ends of the bridge abutments are eroded, with a high risk of collapse. Under the bridge, the concrete pillars are broken into large pieces, rusted, and show signs of being filled with new concrete.
