On October 21, speaking with Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Trong Tien - Head of the Road Management Maintenance Department - Lao Cai Department of Construction - said: Currently, the Yen Bai Bridge maintenance project (connecting Yen Bai Ward with Au Lau Ward) has been temporarily suspended. The units are carefully reviewing and evaluating the current status of the Yen Bai bridge project. After that, a plan will be developed to build a new Yen Bai bridge.
According to the leader of the Road Management and Maintenance Department, Yen Bai Bridge is one of the oldest bridges across the Red River in Lao Cai province (after Coc Leu Bridge, Pho Lu Bridge) still in operation.
However, because the bridge was built a long time ago and suffered heavy damage due to floods, many sand dredgers drifting freely from upstream collided with the pillars and girders of Yen Bai Bridge, affecting the quality, structure and safety of the project.
Previously, the Lao Cai Department of Construction had repeatedly banned people and vehicles from traveling through the bridge during flood days and after floods due to damaged bridges and unsafety.
By July 2025, the Vietnam Road Administration had allowed the repair and reinforcement of Yen Bai bridge with an investment cost of over 24 billion VND.
However, due to the impact of the circulation of storm No. 10, Yen Bai Bridge continues to be hit by sand trains from upstream, risking affecting quality and safety. The project continued to be fenced off, prohibiting all people and vehicles from passing through.
Mr. Ha Tien Cuong (in Au Lau ward) said that the ban on bridges makes it difficult for people to travel. In particular, when the entire bridge is fenced off, people cannot walk. Students and adults who want to go to the market are also having a hard time.
"The old bridge is damaged a lot and is no longer safe. I just hope that all levels and sectors of Lao Cai province will soon implement the construction, helping people travel more conveniently," said Mr. Cuong.
Regarding this issue, the Standing Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee - Mr. Nguyen The Phuoc - said: "We are re-inspecting Yen Bai bridge, if conditions are met, people will be temporarily allowed to pass through. In the coming time, the locality will plan to invest in building a new bridge".
Checking the current status of Yen Bai bridge, Mr. Tran Huy Tuan - Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee - requested the Department of Construction and the No. 1 Construction Investment Project Management Board to review and clearly assess the current status of the base project to soon develop a plan to build the new Yen Bai bridge.
In particular, units need to study the plan to build a new bridge in conjunction with traffic planning and urban planning to ensure effective, convenient and safe investment.
The Yen Bai Bridge project, route Km280+500, National Highway 37, was completed and put into operation and use in 1992.
The bridge is 305m long, 12.8m wide, 7m wide (for vehicles), 6 spans, spans, precast reinforced concrete span structure and steel truss, bridge abutments (steel reinforced concrete beams, stone body), reinforced concrete bridge piers.
In September 2024, due to the impact of storm No. 3, the water level of Thao River rose near the steel truss system, a sand suction ship drifting freely from upstream collided with the pillar and girder of Yen Bai Bridge, affecting the quality, structure and safety of the project.
After the repair, Yen Bai Bridge allowed cars, motorbikes and pedestrians to travel but still limited the height to 2.2m and banned all trucks and cars with more than 7 seats from passing.
Although the authorities have taken many measures to notify and install height-restricted signs, Yen Bai bridge has been damaged by trucks 17 times.
