People face difficulties because of the "shelved" bridge project

(Baonghean.vn) - Some sections of the N2 canal passing through Vinh Thanh and Yen Thanh communes have been upgraded and put into use, but some of the bridges across are still unfinished, making people worried as the rainy and stormy season approaches.

Dong Ho Bridge, Cao Son hamlet, is one of the residential bridges built over the N2 canal flowing through Vinh Thanh commune. This bridge serves travel, production and connects to the cemeteries of 6 hamlets: Cao Son, Tan Vinh, Bac Thap, Nam Thap, Dong Thap and Nhan Thap.

Dong Ho Bridge in Vinh Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) has poured piers and piers on both sides but has been left unfinished and "covered" for two years now. Photo: Anh Tuan

Local residents said the bridge was built decades ago and has been seriously degraded. After many petitions from the government and the people, the bridge was integrated into the project to restore and upgrade the North Nghe An irrigation system funded by Japanese ODA (JICA project).

In 2015, when the N2 canal was deployed, the entire old bridge was demolished. The construction unit built a temporary bridge for people to travel and started to build a new bridge, pouring piers and piers on both sides. However, for more than 2 years now, the bridge has been "covered" and construction has stopped, the steel on both sides has rusted. To travel, people here have to go through a temporary bridge, which is not safe, especially during the rainy season.

Every day, people in Vinh Thanh commune travel and do agricultural production across the degraded temporary bridge, which is very difficult and dangerous. Photo: Phan Hien

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang in Tan Vinh hamlet, Vinh Thanh commune expressed: Dong Ho bridge is an essential bridge for the people of 6 hamlets but it has been under construction for more than 2 years and is still not completed. The temporary bridge is small and narrow, making it very difficult for people to travel and do agricultural production.

Due to the long-term suspension of construction, the steel on both sides of the bridge abutment has rusted. Photo: Anh Tuan

N2 Canal passes through Vinh Thanh commune with a length of more than 2 km and has many bridges across it, but due to being built a long time ago, most of them have deteriorated. Along with Dong Ho Bridge, a number of other bridges on the route have also been surveyed, evaluated, and geologically explored for inclusion in the project but are still on paper.

Mr. Thai Huy Hoang - Chairman of Vinh Thanh Commune People's Committee said: The Japanese JICA project program is constructing canals N2 and N27, but the construction progress is very slow, especially the bridge construction progress. The local authority has requested many times to build the lower bridge of Cao Son hamlet but it has not been constructed yet. We request the authorities, contractors, and project management board to urgently build canals and bridges to ensure the livelihood of the people of Vinh Thanh commune.

Anh Tuan - Phan Hien