Cat Ngan (Thanh Chuong) - in dire need of a solid bridge

Thanh Chuongis a low mountainous district. Lam River, Giang River, Rao Gang River, Ro River, and many streams and creeks cut the terrain. In the past, people counted that the whole district had up to 36 ferry piers. River piers and ferries are familiar images of the countryside, and have entered poetry, music and painting. But traveling by ferry is really troublesome. On sunny days it is bearable. When it rains, winds and floods, it is very difficult.

Cat Ngan is a residential area located in the northwest of the district. Chua Market belongs to Phong Thinh Commune, which is the center of the area. Since ancient times, Cat Ngan has consisted of 10 communes, with the Ministry of Public Security's Re-education Camp No. 6, Hanh Lam Tea Enterprise, Youth Volunteer Team 2, Rubber Company... located in the area. Recently, two communes, Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son - resettled by Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, have come to live together. Cat Ngan's population is about 65,000 people.

Giang River Suspension Bridge, also known as Chua Market Suspension Bridge, is located at Km105+970 QL46C and was built and put into use in 1987. Giang River Suspension Bridge connects Thanh Lien and Phong Thinh communes (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Huy Thu

Chua Market has existed for a long time and is the main market of the whole area. Just over a kilometer apart, there are two high schools, Thanh Chuong 3 High School and Cat Ngan High School. There is also Chung Linh Pagoda and Trung Hoa Church, with a large number of people passing by. In recent years, at the time before school starts and after school, there have been traffic jams. On holidays, Tet, and market days, the police have to send people to direct traffic during rush hour...

The people of Cat Ngan still remember: At around 6am on August 19, At Suu year (1985), in a tragic accident, a boat sank, 11 students of Thanh Chuong 3 High School passed away forever. An atmosphere of mourning covered the whole village and school.

After this incident, the suspension bridge of Chua market passed through.Giang RiverConstruction began and was inaugurated in 1987. That was also the time when the roads were still rough and muddy, the main means of transport were motorbikes, bicycles, etc. The bridge truly connected joys, provided essential services for people's lives, and created important conditions for the socio-economic development of the region and district.

After the accident, the authorities have sent people to be on duty to regulate traffic and vehicles passing through the Giang River suspension bridge. An officer from the Department of Road Management II, General Department of Roads of Vietnam said: After the police's investigation of the scene is completed, we will immediately start restoring the railing system, as well as the items damaged by the accident. Photo: Huy Thu

Traffic needs are growing. Highway 533 is upgraded to Highway 46C. Roads are upgraded. Vehicles are increasing in number and becoming more modern. The old, outdated suspension bridge must be patient and strained to endure. The district must erect a warning sign “Weak bridge, can only bear a load of less than 7 tons”; assign people to be on duty, not allowing vehicles with a load of more than 7 tons to cross the bridge. Each time the bridge is crossed, only 1 medium vehicle or 2 small vehicles are allowed, 12 meters apart. Many groups traveling by coach here have to “increase the toll”… vans are not allowed to cross the bridge.

If calculated precisely, according to the lunar calendar, only 35 years (only 8 hours apart), on the 19th of the 8th lunar month, there was another tragic accident: A collision between a car and a motorbike on the suspension bridge of Chua market, all 5 people were killed! Another sad day named after Giang river!

I think: On a national highway, the suspension bridge was built during the subsidy period, connecting two sides of the dirt road, serving the people's lives. After 35 years of struggling, it can be considered that its "historical mission" has ended. The people of Cat Ngan area really need a solid bridge.

Agree on proposal to build a rigid bridge to replace the Giang River suspension bridge in Thanh Chuong

(Baonghean.vn) - In the immediate future, while the bridge has not been built, it is necessary to immediately implement safety measures such as installing lighting, reflective equipment, speed limit signs and stepping up propaganda for the people.