Hundreds of residents hold their breath as they cross the dilapidated bridge.

The bridge, 40 years old and now in a state of disrepair, still serves the transportation needs of nearly 400 households in Nam Linh commune (Nam Dan district). Photo: Quyen Nguyen

Bridge 78, over 40 meters long and nearly 3 meters wide, was built in the 1980s. It was originally named 78 because it connects Hamlet 7 and Hamlet 8 to the People's Committee of Nam Linh Commune. Bridge 78 is also a transportation link connecting Nam Linh Commune with National Highway 46, the section passing through Nam Dan District.

After many years of use, the bridge deteriorated and was repaired several times by the local authorities and residents. However, recently, the bridge continues to show signs of collapse and breakage, causing hundreds of households to feel anxious every time they cross it.

Many points on the bridge's surface have horizontal cracks. Photo: Quyen Nguyen

Observations reveal that the bridge's structure and components are severely damaged: the railings are welded from broken steel bars. Many areas of the bridge's surface have peeled off in chunks of cement; the bridge's foundations are showing signs of subsidence with numerous cracks. The steel support beams beneath the bridge are severely rusted in many places. Particularly in the middle of the bridge, several supporting pillars have broken, just waiting to collapse. Every time people transport agricultural products across, they are extremely worried.

Many bridge pillars have shown signs of subsidence. Photo: Quyen Nguyen

Ms. Vo Thi Tham, from Hamlet 7, Nam Linh Commune, said: "Every day, I shudder at the sight of hundreds of vehicles crossing the bridge. Especially during the rainy season, the river flows so fiercely it seems like it's going to swallow the bridge, but the people have no other choice. Many times, when we cross the bridge, we are constantly worried, not knowing when it might collapse."

The bridge abutments are riddled with cracks. Photo: Quyen Nguyen

Mr. Phan Xuan Dong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Linh commune, said: “Bridge 78 was built nearly 40 years ago. Currently, it serves more than 400 households in the commune to access National Highway 46. Recently, the commune allocated over 30 million VND for repairs to make it easier for people to travel, but it hasn't been very successful. Local budgets are limited, and people's lives are still difficult, so we haven't been able to complete the repairs yet. The district has surveyed and planned projects many times, but nothing has been done yet. Regarding solutions to ensure the safety of the people, since the beginning of the year, the commune has put up warning signs in the deep water area and prohibited vehicles weighing more than 700kg from passing through.”