To overcome this, Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing projects to build new replacement bridges to ensure safety and increase connectivity.
Hold your breath across the rickety bridges in Nha Be
Le Van Luong Street runs through two communes, Phuoc Kien and Nhon Duc, connecting Nha Be District (HCMC) and Can Giuoc District (Long An Province). On this route, there were previously four iron bridges, including Rach Dia, Long Kieng, Rach Tom and Rach Doi. These bridges were all built before 1975, with the same steel structure and degraded. Currently, the new Long Kieng Bridge has been opened to traffic, the new Rach Dia Bridge is under construction, but the remaining two bridges have not been rebuilt.
Rach Doi Bridge is currently one of the most worrisome weak bridges. Many of the iron piers are rusted and riddled with holes, making the bridge structure very fragile. Despite its severe deterioration, Rach Doi Bridge still has to bear a large load of traffic, from motorbikes, cars to trucks. Under the bridge, cargo ships, especially ferries loaded with sand, move frequently, creating a risk of collision with the bridge's footing.
Rach Tom Bridge is in no better condition. With a width of only about 3m, this bridge is often jammed with traffic during rush hour. The bridge has no sidewalk, forcing people to risk their lives crossing the middle of the traffic. Every time a large truck moves across the bridge, the iron plates on the surface shake violently, increasing the insecurity of the people.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Nha Be district) shared: "When there are many vehicles, the bridge shakes and makes me very scared. I just hope it doesn't collapse like the old Long Kieng bridge a few years ago."
Replace weak bridges on Le Van Luong Street
To address the deterioration of bridges on Le Van Luong Street, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed including the construction projects of new Rach Tom and Rach Doi bridges in the investment plan from now until 2030.
The Rach Tom Bridge project was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport in 2019 with a total investment of nearly VND497 billion. The new bridge is expected to be 171m long, 15m wide, with an approach road of more than 512m long. However, due to the lack of medium-term funding for the 2021-2025 period, the project is still stalled. Currently, the Department of Transport has proposed allocating about VND260 billion in the 2024-2025 period to clear the site and is expected to be completed and open to traffic by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, the new Rach Doi bridge project was approved in 2016, but has not yet been implemented due to difficulties in balancing capital sources. The new Rach Doi bridge will be 452m long, 15m wide with an approach road of about 300m. Of the total investment, Ho Chi Minh City will cover the cost of site clearance of about VND265 billion, while the section through Long An province is expected to cost about VND85 billion and will be implemented by this locality. It is expected that Rach Doi bridge will be completed in 2028, after Ho Chi Minh City adjusts the investment policy this year.
According to Mr. Luong Minh Phuc - Director of the Department of Investment and Construction Management of Traffic Works in Ho Chi Minh City, many weak bridges have been rebuilt and put into use, typically Long Kieng and Phuoc Loc bridges (Nha Be district), or Vam Sat 2 bridge (Can Gio district). It is expected that at the end of September, Nam Ly bridge on Do Xuan Hop street (Thu Duc city) will be opened to traffic, helping to replace the narrow and degraded Rach Chiec dam bridge.
Rach Dia Bridge on Le Van Luong Street, connecting Nha Be and District 7, has completed 81% of the construction volume. Seven out of nine bridge girder spans have been installed. The construction of the bridge deck and remaining girder spans is being accelerated, with the entire project expected to be completed by December 2024.
