Thanh Nam Bridge (Con Cuong) construction is slow due to site clearance problems.

The project to build Thanh Nam bridge across Lam river, Con Cuong district, connecting the town with the left bank of Lam river, was approved by Nghe An Provincial People's Council in Resolution No. 13 dated May 14, 2020 and implemented from September 2021, with a total investment of nearly 166 billion VND.

The project is designed as a permanent bridge with prestressed reinforced concrete structure, the bridge length is about 412m, the road at both ends of the bridge has a total length of 1.78km. In which, the road at the bridgehead on the town side (intersection with National Highway 7), length is about 0.18km: Grade III mountain road, roadbed width 9m; road surface width 6m, reinforced 1.5m shoulder on each side with the same structure as the road surface. Complete construction of drainage system along both sides of the road.

The road at the bridgehead on the Thanh Nam bank (intersection with DT.541), about 1.6km long, is a grade IV mountainous road with a 7.5m wide roadbed; 5.5m wide road surface, reinforced 0.5m on each side with the same structure as the road surface. The bridge is designed with a load capacity according to HL93 standard.

Thanh Nam Bridge project across Lam River (Con Cuong) has completed 9/11 pillars and 2 abutments along with all girder structures by the end of February 2023. Photo: Quang An

By the end of February, the projectThanh Nam bridge over Lam river(Con Cuong) has completed a large amount of work: 9/11 pillars, 2 bridge abutments and the entire girder structure have been completed. A permanent bridge made of concrete and steel across the Lam River in Con Cuong town is gradually emerging.

However, the road to both ends of the bridge has not been constructed yet, while according to the plan, it will be completed by this September after 2 years of construction. The construction unit said that because the locality has not completed the workland clearanceTherefore, the contractor has not been able to implement the road project to the bridge, causing difficulties in transporting raw materials to the project.

Because the road to both ends of the bridge has not been cleared, the construction unit cannot speed up the progress. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The biggest problem is the bridgehead on the town side (intersection with National Highway 7A), about 200m long, with dozens of households having to be relocated, but so far no households have been relocated; The road at the bridgehead on the Thanh Nam side (intersection with Provincial Road 541), about 1.6km long, is also facing some households and forestry land.

"If the locality prolongs the site clearance time, the construction unit will not be able to speed up the progress as planned, and the issue of capital disbursement will also be affected," the contractor representative shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Thinh - Director of the Con Cuong District Construction Investment Project Management Board, Thanh Nam Bridge has been implemented since September 2021, and by the end of 2022, nearly 95 billion VND had been disbursed, reaching 100%. However, the project is currently facing difficulties due to the lack of land clearance. All business households in the Con Cuong market area are subject to relocation to make way for the road to the bridge, but the local government has not yet been able to clear them.

The nearly 2km long Thanh Nam bank road has yet to be cleared. Photo: Quang An

Talking to reporters, business households that must relocate to make room in the Con Cuong market area said that for decades, the lives of most families here have been based on business and trade. Therefore, the local government needs to arrange new housing that is convenient for business so that people can stabilize their lives in the long term.

Mr. Luong Dinh Viet - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, Chairman of the Land Clearance Council of Con Cuong District said: The road to the bridge on the Con Cuong town side has 42 households affected. Of which, 4 households are residential, 3 households are forced to relocate, the district has arranged land for new resettlement. Particularly, 38 business kiosks are land managed by the State. Currently, the District Land Clearance Council has declared, counted assets, and prepared documents to proceed with compensation according to regulations.

The road on the town's shore connecting to National Highway 7A has not yet liberated 38 households doing business in the Con Cuong market area. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The old Con Cuong market area has an area of ​​only 6,000m2.², the market also does not meet fire prevention and fighting conditions. Meanwhile, the new market does not have any investors, so it is difficult for the district to arrange new business locations for these 38 business households. However, the district will proceed with the clearance and strive to complete the site clearance before April 30. The policies to support people are applied according to Decision No. 24/2022 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Con Cuong Market has a small area, so households doing business in the market area that must be cleared are worried that they will not have a place to do business. Photo: Quang An

Thanh Nam Bridge is a key and urgent project of Con Cuong district to contribute to completing the traffic network system, meeting the travel needs of the people, contributing to promoting economic development, ensuring security and defense in the area.

The current issue is that local authorities need to speed up the site clearance process so that contractors can speed up the project construction progress. This is also a solution to ensure that public investment capital is promptly disbursed in Con Cuong district in particular and Nghe An province in general./.