The nearly 50-year-old bridge on La River has exposed iron frame and collapsed railings.

(Baohatinh.vn) - After nearly half a century of existence, Do Hao Bridge (Duc Quang Commune, Ha Tinh) has exposed steel, broken railings and is filled with trash after floods; but every day, hundreds of vehicles have to pass through despite the lurking danger.

Built decades ago, Do Hao Bridge was once the pride of the people of Quang Vinh Commune (now Duc Quang Commune, Ha Tinh ). However, now, the bridge is struggling to carry large and small vehicles despite being severely degraded.

Do Hao Bridge across La River is the connecting route between Vinh Hoa village with Duc Quang commune center and neighboring areas. The bridge is nearly 60m long, only about 5m wide, the load from the bridge deck and main girder is transferred to six main pillars in the middle of the bridge and two abutments at the bridge ends.

Without major repairs for decades, the concrete on the bridge's walls has cracked, exposing rusted steel in many places. The bridge's abutments and railings have completely collapsed. At night, during heavy rains or when floodwaters are high, even a slight slip can send someone plummeting into the river.

"Rush hour is crowded with cars and motorbikes jostling to avoid each other, which is very dangerous. Sometimes, when we encounter a herd of buffalo and cows running in the opposite direction, we have to stop in the middle of the bridge to avoid them. The bridge is narrow, the railing is degraded, and the river below is deep. Who wouldn't be worried? Every time I cross the bridge, I'm always nervous. It's also very dangerous for young students," said Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, a resident of Quy Vuong village (Duc Quang commune).

At the junction between the span structure and the bridge abutment, the expansion joint (thermal gap) has widened by about 3cm. The gap not only affects the continuity of the bridge deck structure, but also poses a safety risk when vehicles, especially motorbikes or pedestrians, pass through.

The concrete layer protecting the bridge railing has been peeled off and broken, exposing the steel core inside and causing severe corrosion due to rust. The main reason is that the bridge has been used for decades without timely maintenance and repair. Heavy rains, storms and floods, along with prolonged humid climate, not only break down the concrete layer but also cause the steel to oxidize quickly.

“The bridge is now like a trap, it is always unsafe to cross. The railings are broken, the bridge surface is covered with rubbish after the flood, making it difficult for vehicles to avoid each other. For decades, the bridge has not been repaired or maintained in general, we, the people, are waiting for the bridge to be rebuilt soon for safety," said Mr. Nguyen Van Dinh, a resident of Vinh Hoa village (Duc Quang commune).

At both sides of the bridge, the guardrails were completely broken. For unfamiliar road users, it was like a "trap" right at the entrance to the bridge.





After the recent floods, debris from upstream filled the walls and underside of the bridge, clinging to the piers and abutments. Failure to promptly dredge and treat the debris has restricted the flow of water, increasing the risk of pier foundation erosion.

Do Hao Bridge is a vital traffic artery, closely linked to the livelihoods of hundreds of households here. It is time to have a plan for timely renovation and repair to prevent the risk of serious accidents.

Video : Close-up of the degraded state of Do Hao bridge.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/cay-cau-cu-gan-50-nam-tuoi-tren-dong-la-tro-khung-sat-sap-lan-can-post296952.html