Safety nets will be installed on Ben Thuy Bridge.
Authorities have just granted permission to construct a decorative lighting system and safety netting at Ben Thuy 1 Bridge, following a series of recent suicides.
On March 23, Mr. Nguyen Duc Dung, Deputy Director of Road Management Area II (Vietnam Road Administration), announced that the unit had approved and granted a construction permit for the project to build and install decorative lighting and safety nets on Ben Thuy 1 Bridge, connecting Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. The project is invested by the People's Committee of Nghi Xuan commune (Ha Tinh province).
According to the approved design, Ben Thuy 1 Bridge will have an additional artistic lighting system installed on the safety railings on the outer side of the bridge (close to the existing railings) in both directions. The new safety railings will be installed on the two prestressed concrete bridge spans and all steel truss bridge spans, with a total length of 433.55m on each side.
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To ensure the stability and durability of the railing and the bridge structure, the construction unit will position the vertical bars to coincide with the positions of the existing railing bars and anchor them to the reinforced concrete wheel guard of the existing bridge using clamp plates and specialized adhesive. Additionally, two horizontal bracing bars will be installed to provide horizontal stability for the new railing system. At the mid-spans of the vertical bars, a welded steel mesh frame will be erected to enhance safety. Along the vertical and horizontal directions of the railing, LED strip lights will be installed for nighttime illumination and to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the structure.
For the two prestressed concrete bridge spans N4 and N10, a safety net system is installed. The decorative electrical system is designed with modular steel mesh in each bay, connected by nuts to individual columns for each bay, and each bay has its own decorative lighting system (each bay's power supply is connected using plugs or other suitable and safe methods) for easy disassembly and reassembly during inspection, maintenance, and repair of the girder system.
The management agency requires that the installation must absolutely not affect the load-bearing capacity and stability of Ben Thuy 1 Bridge. The lighting system must ensure that it does not cause glare or create flickering effects that affect traffic participants. During construction, the investor and the construction unit must provide adequate signage, barriers, traffic lights, and traffic controllers to ensure safe traffic flow 24/7 on National Highway 1.
Notably, all costs for installation, operation, maintenance, and dismantling when required will be borne by the investor. In the event that the project affects traffic safety or the bridge structure, the investor will be responsible for rectification and compensation as per regulations. The decoration and addition of the protective system to Ben Thuy 1 Bridge is expected to contribute to improving the urban aesthetics of the Nghe An – Ha Tinh gateway area, while also enhancing the safety of the structure during operation. Construction is scheduled to begin before April 25, 2026.
Ben Thuy 1 Bridge is a crucial transportation project, construction of which began in 1986 and was inaugurated on May 19, 1990. The bridge is 630.5 meters long, constructed of steel trusses, and plays a vital role on National Highway 1A, replacing the Ben Thuy ferry. However, in recent times, many people have come to this area to commit suicide. Given this reality, many have suggested installing protective railings to prevent such negative acts.