Yen Thanh: Residents are weary of waiting for the 'paper bridge' project.

(Baonghean.vn) - With the rainy and stormy season approaching, residents of Dai Thanh and Minh Thanh communes, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province, are worried because the severely dilapidated bridges have yet to be upgraded.

The Khe Muong Bridge, located in Hamlet 3, Dai Thanh mountainous commune, Yen Thanh district, was built during the French colonial period and lies on a vital transportation artery connecting Dai Thanh commune to Minh Thanh commune. Due to its long period of use without upgrades or repairs, the bridge is now severely dilapidated. More than a third of the railing on one side is broken, and the remaining side and railing are also cracked and riddled with holes, exposing the reinforcing steel.

The railings of Khe Muong bridge are riddled with holes, exposing the reinforcing steel.

The Khe Muong Bridge was approved by the General Department of Roads to be included in the LRAMP project for upgrading, with an estimated cost of approximately 1 billion VND and a projected completion time before the 2017 rainy season. However, to date, no implementation has been seen, causing concern among the local authorities and residents.

Mr. Vuong Kim Su, chairman of the People's Committee of Dai Thanh commune, said: "Since 2015 and 2016, a team has come to survey, design, and conduct geological drilling for the Khe Muong bridge. The government and people of Dai Thanh commune were very excited. However, to this day, there has been no progress, and we don't know how to answer the people's questions."

This prolonged situation has had a significant impact on the daily lives and production activities of the people. In particular, hundreds of students from Dai Thanh commune attending Dai Minh Secondary School in Minh Thanh have to constantly cross this bridge, especially as the rainy season approaches."

Not far from Khe Muong Bridge, there is another bridge spanning the canal that is also in a state of disrepair. It is known that a project for this bridge exists, but it shares the same "situation" as Khe Muong Bridge – it remains only on paper.

The bridge spanning the canal not far from Khe Muong Bridge is also in a state of disrepair.

Not only the Khe Muong bridge but also the Yen Huu bridge in Hamlet 5, Minh Thanh commune, is in a similar condition. Built more than 20 years ago, the Yen Huu bridge no longer resembles a proper bridge. The railings on both sides are broken and have collapsed, with many sections of concrete missing.

Mr. Pham Xuan Tuyet, a resident of Hamlet 5, Minh Thanh Commune, expressed his concern: "The Yen Huu bridge connecting Hamlet 5 of Minh Thanh Commune to Bai Son and Do Luong District is severely dilapidated and damaged, yet no repairs or upgrades have been made. For more than three years, we have had to petition to ban heavy vehicles from crossing because the bridge is weak. Now that the rainy season is approaching, and there is a high demand for construction, the ban continues indefinitely. We are very worried and don't know what to do."

Mr. Phan Viet Ha, Vice Chairman of the Minh Thanh Commune People's Committee, said: Minh Thanh has three damaged and dilapidated bridges for local residents. Of these, the Yen Huu bridge has an investment project planned, but so far there has been no progress. The rainy season is approaching, making it very dangerous.

The Yen Huu bridge can hardly be considered a proper bridge given its severely dilapidated condition.

In Yen Thanh district, there are 9 rural bridges that have been approved by the Vietnam Road Administration for inclusion in the LRAMP project. Of these, 2 bridges were approved for completion before the 2017 rainy season. These bridges also serve as vital transportation links between communes within and outside the district.

Anh Tuan - Phan Hien