Thac Nhat suspension bridge crosses Cau river, connecting Dong Hy district and Phu Luong district. The bridge has a total investment of 6 billion VND.
The project has a cable-stayed design, total length 110m, bridge deck width 2m, completed and put into use in 2015.
After nearly 10 years of use, under the erosion of nature, especially the recent storm and flood, many wind-bracing cables were broken, causing the bridge to shake and sway violently every time someone passed by.
On November 28, the reporter noted that the cables on both sides of the bridge were broken and could not be reused. Many steel plates on the bridge deck were collapsed, warped, and patched together roughly.
The area at both ends of the bridge has been fenced with barbed wire, and two concrete pillars placed underneath to prevent vehicles from passing. Warning signs are fully installed, but people still risk crossing, regardless of the risks that may occur.
Ms. Phan Thi Thu Thuy, Ca Phe hamlet, Minh Lap commune (Dong Hy) said that the bridge has been banned for more than a month because the anti-vibration cables were broken. Every time someone passes by, the whole bridge shakes and sways, making it unsafe for people to travel.
"Although there are no-entry signs and barbed wire fences, some people still try to pass through. Some even cut the barbed wire and break the lock to drive through. We keep reminding them, but they don't listen," said Ms. Thuy.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, Phu Do commune (Phu Luong) also said that the reason people choose to go through the suspension bridge, despite the danger, is because this is a vital route, shortening the travel distance between the two localities.
"I know the bridge is closed to traffic, but this is the main road. If we take another road, we have to go all the way to Tan Long roundabout. If we go around, it's dozens of kilometers away.
We hope that the locality will soon have a plan to fix and repair the bridge so that people's travel can return to normal," Ms. Hong suggested.
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Vu Van Mac - Chairman of Minh Lap Commune People's Committee confirmed that the Thac Nhat suspension bridge was damaged, with broken anti-vibration cables, posing a potential safety risk to people and vehicles participating in traffic.
"The cause of the broken cable shaking was due to the recent storm and flood. The locality has requested to fence and assign people to watch over it. Regarding the situation where people still deliberately travel on it, we will remind and propagate to ensure safety.
Regarding the repair plan, the locality is waiting for Dong Hy district to renovate as soon as possible to make it convenient for people to travel," the commune leader informed.
