Danger from the '2 in 1' bridge

(Baonghean.vn) - On the bridge that is only wider than an arm's span, 3m - 5m high above the ground and has no railing, hundreds of people still pass by every day.

The bridge, which dates back to the 1970s, no longer has railings and poses a potential risk of accidents.

The aqueduct that carries water from Highway 48 to the rice fields of Ta Lanh village, Chau Hanh commune (Quy Chau - Nghe An) has long functioned as a residential bridge. Villagers going to the town center, about 1km away, often take a shortcut here. Every day, hundreds of people cross this bridge, including students.

About 100m long, just over an arm’s width, 3m high, and in some places about 5m above the ground, the bridge is like a thin rope across the rice fields. The two sides of the path are empty, only traces of the railing system that was destroyed long ago remain. Underneath the bridge is a ditch covered with a concrete lid to make a path, in many sections the lids are placed far apart, creating “traps” for those who accidentally step on them.

The covers are spaced far apart, giving the deck many deep, trap-like grooves on this railingless bridge.

In about an hour of one morning, the reporter witnessed dozens of motorbikes and bicycles passing by. Many people avoided each other on the narrow bridge with fear. Just a little carelessness and both the person and the bicycle would fall into the field. After 10 am, groups of students appeared on the bridge on their way home from school. Some groups carefully walked, others cycled on the narrow bridge, talking and laughing.

Every day, hundreds of people pass through this "2 in 1" bridge.

A commune official asked shared that: The community bridge in Ta Lanh village has existed since the 70s. It is an irrigation canal that once provided water for over 6 hectares of rice fields, and now it still provides enough water for 3 hectares. People found it convenient to travel on and it naturally became a community bridge. Previously, there was a protective railing on the bridge, but it was then broken and stolen and sold as scrap. The bridge pier on the Ta Lanh village side is damaged.

People living in the area were asked that there have been many accidents involving people and livestock when the bridge fell off. “There have been cases where both people and vehicles fell into the fields. Last year, a buffalo died because of falling off the bridge. Luckily, no one has died yet.” - Mr. Lang Xuan Tu, a resident of Ta Lanh village said.

Many students in the village still go to school on this bridge every day.

Those asked all agreed that crossing the bridge was dangerous. However, many still considered it the main way to get back to their village. Not far away was a concrete road leading to Ta Lanh village, but it was a longer detour than crossing the bridge. For convenience, many people still ignored the risk of accidents crossing this fragile bridge.

A commune official said that the government has advised people to only walk on this bridge because accidents have occurred. It is very difficult to ban people from using this bridge.

Huu Vi - Ho Phuong