Bridge breaks early and the "subscated part" is difficult to control
The Song Lo Bridge in Phu Tho is becoming the focus of attention when a serious deterioration occurred, leaving bare steel piles at pier T3. This incident raises big questions about the quality and construction control process of key infrastructure projects.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, an expert in the construction sector said that the phenomenon of early damage at Song Lo Bridge is just a slice of the broader picture of project quality management. The core of the problem lies in the "submerged" part - the bored pile system, the foundation is the main force of the project.
This expert commented: "We can only assess the upstream part, while the sunken part is almost uncessible. If we only rely on the feeling that the amount of concrete pumped down is enough, without specific inspection measures, we cannot know the real quality of the deposit.
stuffed piles are a popular construction method in bridges, tunnels and high-rise buildings. However, this is also the most difficult part to control because the entire process takes place underground. If the contractor does not follow the correct procedures and the supervision stage is not strict, the risk of defects in the piles - such as holes, lack of concrete, separation of layers - is very high.
Two methods of checking "subsidence"
According to experts, there are currently two methods that are considered the most effective in checking the quality of bored piles.
The first is the test using an ultrasound tube (Ultrasonic Testing). This method allows the detection of defects in the pile body thanks to ultrasound tubes installed along the pile when pouring concrete. For piles with a diameter of 800mm or less, at least three tubes should be arranged in triangles; for piles with a diameter of 1,000mm or more, four tubes should be needed to help check six different cuts. If the process is implemented correctly, the quality of concrete can be controlled at a very high level.
Second is thecore Sampling - drilling directly into the pile to take samples to check concrete quality, especially at the pile tip. However, this method is expensive and can only be implemented in some limited locations.
In fact, the cost of such strict inspection measures is very high. Therefore, current standards only regulate a certain inspection rate, causing the final quality to depend somewhat on "trust" in the contractor and seriousness in the supervision process.
This construction expert also expressed that currently, construction laws mainly strengthen post-inspection issues. This contributes to making the construction progress more smooth. However, when only focusing on post-inspections but lacking supervision during the construction process, quality may not be truly controlled.
Regarding Song Lo bridge, the Ministry of Construction previously issued a document requesting an inspection of the quality of the project.
According to the official dispatch of the Ministry of Construction, through press reports, the quality of some Song Lo bridge piers in Phu Tho province has seriously degraded. Some concrete pillars were exposed with load-bearing steel reinforcements, affecting the safety of the project.
The Ministry of Construction requests the People's Committee of Phu Tho province and assigns the State Appraisal Department of Construction Quality and the Vietnam Road Administration to carry out a number of contents as follows:
The People's Committee of Phu Tho province assigned the Department of Construction to organize an inspection of the current status of the project, direct and request the unit managing, exploiting and using the Song Lo bridge project and relevant agencies to comply with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 40 of Decree No. 06/2021/ND-CP, including:
Organize the quality inspection of the project.
Take necessary measures such as limiting the use of works, isolating dangerous areas or immediately repairing damages in cases where there is a risk of affecting the safety of use and safety of works.
Develop and adjust traffic plans in accordance with reality to ensure the safety of people and property when traveling through this area.
Report the implementation results to the Ministry of Construction before November 15, 2025.
The Ministry of Construction assigns the State Appraisal Department of Construction Quality based on its functions and tasks to monitor, guide and coordinate with the Department of Construction in organizing the inspection and assessment of the quality and load-bearing capacity of the Song Lo bridge project.
Assign the Vietnam Road Administration, based on its functions and tasks, to guide and coordinate with relevant agencies under the People's Committee of Phu Tho province in organizing the control of vehicles traveling through the Song Lo bridge, dividing traffic, organizing traffic and guiding people and vehicles traveling in both directions of the bridgehead.
