Old bridges and temporary bridges in the highlands of Nghe An

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Xop Nhi suspension bridge across Nam Mo river is an important traffic junction of Ky Son mountainous district in connecting from National Highway 7 to the northern communes of the district such as Huu Lap, Huu Kiem, Bao Nam, Bao Thang.

The bridge was built in 1984, serving travel and trade of goods for about 10,000 people of the above communes.

Xop Nhi suspension bridge across Nam Non river. Photo: Thanh Chung

After 36 years of operation, Xop Nhi suspension bridge was seriously damaged and degraded. The cable system was pulled off-center, rubbing against the bridge wall, creating deep scratches on the bridge wall. The cable anchor hole also sank and tilted.

At the end of 2013, the Department of Transport inspected and evaluated the current status of all suspension bridges in use in the province and concluded that Xop Nhi bridge was one of 30 bridges that were damaged and needed to be repaired.

By 2018, the flood in October caused the northern bridge pier to gradually erode, many layers of soil and rock were washed away, with a 7m long crack, gouging deep into the frog's jaw. In 2019, the People's Committee of Ky Son district spent 120 million VND to fix this crack and landslide. However, currently, in the south of Xop Nhi bridge, a large landslide has appeared due to the Nam Mo river changing its course. In conditions of heavy and prolonged rain and floods, this landslide is likely to spread, causing danger and eroding the Xop Nhi bridge pier.

Over time, Xop Nhi bridge has been severely damaged. Photo: Thanh Chung

To ensure traffic safety, Huu Kiem commune has issued a notice prohibiting heavy trucks from crossing the bridge and has erected barriers to restrict heavy trucks. The commune only allows motorbikes and small cars to pass through. However, people's compliance is not good. Many trucks carrying loads exceeding the local bridge crossing regulations still blatantly cross the bridge, even destroying the barriers to "clear" the bridge.

Mr. Ngo Van Thang, Xop Nhi village, Huu Lap commune, "sawed" the bed so that his small truck could pass the height restriction barrier. Mr. Thang said: "In addition to sawing the bed, the truck also has to increase the height many times. To make a living, we have to risk our lives crossing the bridge..."

Every day, Xop Nhi bridge has to carry a large amount of goods and people passing by, which is increasing due to the development needs of the northern communes of Ky Son district.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Bao Nam Commune Cut Thanh Hoai said: "Recently, the need for investment in infrastructure, housing, and local economic development has increased, but the transportation and trade of agricultural products, buffaloes, cows, essential goods, construction materials, etc. in and out of the area is difficult, because at the Xop Nhi suspension bridge, heavy-duty trucks cannot pass through."

In addition to the damage, the current width of the Xop Nhi bridge is small and cannot meet the growing transportation needs of the people in the area. Photo: Thanh Chung

In the most recent voter meetings on October 7, 2020, Ky Son voters requested the authorities to soon build a new concrete bridge to replace this Xop Nhi suspension bridge.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Minh - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district said: To ensure safety for people when participating in traffic, at the same time contribute to promoting the development of traffic infrastructure in the region, promoting economic development, improving people's lives, ensuring security and order for communes such as Huu Lap, Huu Kiem, Bao Nam, Bao Thang... Ky Son district is preparing a project dossier to build a new Xop Nhi bridge to submit to competent authorities for approval.

According to statistics, Nghe An province currently has 68 suspension bridges for people. Nghe An Department of Transport has conducted a general inspection and assessment, up to now there are more than 30 suspension bridges that pose potential traffic safety risks when there are situations such as: Floor surface is shifted, damaged, rusted, welds are peeled off, screws are dropped, railings are broken, main cables are dry; lack of height restriction bars and signs prohibiting load restrictions on bridges...

Replacing Xop Nhi suspension bridge in particular and other suspension bridges for people with rigid bridges is very urgent; otherwise, unfortunate and heartbreaking incidents such as the accident that killed 5 people on the suspension bridge over Giang river, in Cho Chua hamlet, Phong Thinh commune, Thanh Chuong district, could very well happen again.

Temporary bridge for people built today, broken tomorrow

In Western Nghe An, not only suspension bridges but also many temporary bridges for people have been and are being severely damaged, falling into the situation of "built today, broken tomorrow". In Tung Hoc village, Huu Khuong commune, Tuong Duong district, there is also such a bridge.

The bridge was temporarily built by the people out of wood, across large rocks on Cha Lat stream, serving the travel of 83 Khmu households in the village. Mr. Lo Van Tinh - Head of Tung Hoc village said: "The road from Tung Hoc to the commune center is the only one, it must go through Cha Lat stream. To facilitate travel, the villagers made a wooden bridge themselves, close to the water surface, crossing the stream width of 15m. Every day, this temporary bridge has an average of 600 people passing through. On dry and sunny days, the bridge works well. But during the rainy season, floodwaters rush in and wash away the bridge. Every year, Tung Hoc people have to rebuild the bridge 5-6 times."

The bridge was washed away, forcing people in Tung Hoc village, Huu Khuong commune (Tuong Duong) to wade across the stream. Photo: Thanh Chung

Mr. Lo Van Chien - Chairman of the People's Committee of Huu Khuong Commune lamented: "The commune has 606 households, 2,668 people, residing in 7 villages, with extremely difficult traffic roads. In recent years, the province and district have paid great attention and are opening inter-commune roads to help develop the locality. Many roads and bridges are being built. However, with limited investment resources, temporary bridges connecting people within villages and villages connecting villages are facing a deadlock. Currently, Huu Khuong Commune needs 2 solid bridges to replace 2 temporary bridges in Tung Hoc and Xan villages, but the commune budget has not yet allowed it."

Similar to the situation of Tung Hoc, every time the rainy season comes, 35 households with nearly 100 Dan Lai people in Thin village, Luc Da commune (Con Cuong) are often isolated when there is a flood. This situation has been going on for the past 30 years and for that long, the people have always longed for a solid bridge.

Thin village is nearly 10 km from the center of Con Cuong district and not far from the asphalt road to the tourist destination of Kem Waterfall, but due to being separated by mountains, forests and streams, Thin village is almost isolated from the outside, life is extremely difficult.

Mr. La Ly, 55 years old, a resident of Thin village, said: “To overcome this situation, the villagers built a temporary wooden bridge, but every time there was a storm, the bridge was washed away. Most recently, the heavy rain on September 19, 2020, washed away the bridge. The villagers have made many requests, but there is still no feasible plan to build the bridge.”

Losing the bridge due to flood, people in Thin village, Luc Da commune (Con Cuong) have to cross the stream by raft. Photo: Thanh Chung

With the rainy season coming, Western Nghe An is "thirsty" for solid bridges to ensure traffic safety for the people. In recent times, Nghe An province has invested a lot in building roads and bridges; many organizations and philanthropists have supported the construction of bridges, creating momentum for the development of the province's localities... However, in the context of limited local resources and unfocused support and assistance, the number of bridges has not yet met the expectations of the people./.