To make Bang Giang bridge strong to welcome the future - Cao Bang Electronic Newspaper

Nearly 40 years have passed since its completion and operation, Bang Giang Bridge still firmly connects Thuc Phan Ward and Nung Tri Cao Ward, and is the main traffic artery in the central area of ​​the province. However, after nearly four decades of operation with increasingly dense traffic, signs of deterioration have appeared, making people worried about the project they have been attached to for nearly half a century.

Bang Giang Bridge has been in operation for nearly 40 years.

Bang Giang Bridge was started in 1986, completed and put into use in 1989. This was one of the key traffic works of the province at that time. The bridge was designed according to the load capacity H13-XB60, 300 kg/m2. The bridge was permanently designed with composite steel beams and reinforced concrete slabs with 4 spans, the total length of the bridge was 162.7m. In the memory of many people, the bridge is not only a road connecting the two banks but also a symbol of change, openness and development.

Mr. Vu Van Mien, group 21, Nung Tri Cao ward, whose family has lived next to the bridge for nearly 40 years, said: I witnessed it since it was a pontoon bridge. When Bang Giang bridge was started, everyone was excited. Since it was put into use, travel has become much more convenient, and the city has gradually become more spacious. However, about 5 years later, I saw a small crack about 10cm long on the bridge abutment. Over time, that crack has not changed.

At Bang Giang bridge abutment in Nung Tri Cao ward, there is a vertical crack between the wing wall and the retaining wall in front of the abutment, with an average width of 10cm and a length of about 4m.

After the recent flood, information appeared on social networks that "Bang Giang bridge is cracked and at risk of collapse", causing confusion among the public. However, the Department of Construction affirmed that the information was incorrect. As soon as there was a reflection, the Department sent technical staff to the scene to inspect and specifically assess the condition of the project. Through visual inspection, the bridge abutment in Nung Tri Cao ward had a vertical crack between the wing wall and the retaining wall in front of the abutment, with an average width of 10cm, about 4m long, and a crack in the concrete retaining wall in front of the abutment with an average width of about 5cm, about 1.2m long. However, the main structure of the bridge abutment cap still ensures its load-bearing capacity. Because the abutment cap is placed directly on the old abutment structure (no cracks have appeared yet), the front retaining wall and the diagonal wing wall only play a role in protecting the abutment body and only bear the pressure of the soil behind the abutment, not directly participating in bearing the main force of the bridge girder span.

Leaders and officers of the Department of Construction came to the site to inspect and specifically assess the status of the project.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thao, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Construction, said: With the current status, it can be affirmed that the bridge is still operating normally, ensuring the traffic and people on the route. However, because the bridge has been in operation for nearly 40 years and the weather is increasingly severe, it is necessary to prioritize capital for maintenance and reinforcement of piers and bridge deck. To promptly detect and prevent other damage and deformation of the bridge, the Department has invited an inspection unit to survey and detect any damage and handle it.

If in the 1990s, the number of vehicles crossing the bridge each day was only a few hundred, now that number has increased hundreds of times. This is the main route connecting Thuc Phan ward and Nung Tri Cao ward today, this is also the area where many agencies, businesses, schools are concentrated... not only motorbikes, personal cars but also many large trucks often cross the bridge, creating significant pressure on the already aging structure.

According to the assessment of the professional agency, with the reinforced concrete bridge structure designed for the load in the 1990s, the current circulation of trucks over 10 tons is beyond the original design. Therefore, the local government has long regulated that heavy trucks are prohibited from crossing Bang Giang bridge.

Not only a traffic construction, Bang Giang bridge also carries symbolic meaning associated with the ups and downs and changes of the province.

Mr. Hoang Anh, a resident of Thuc Phan ward, shared: This bridge is the main route of the provincial center, with a high traffic volume, dozens of vehicles passing every minute. With a lifespan of nearly 40 years, I think the authorities should soon re-inspecte the entire bridge's load capacity. People hope to have a periodic maintenance plan to ensure the structure and stability of the bridge. At the same time, controlling the load of vehicles passing through the bridge must be strictly implemented. Because, no matter how well the bridge is reinforced, if overloaded vehicles still pass regularly, all maintenance efforts will soon be broken.

Not only a traffic construction, Bang Giang Bridge also carries special spiritual value. Generations of Cao Bang people are familiar with the image of the bridge reflecting on the Bang River, where many childhood memories, school days, afternoons of taking photos and walking around are held. Today, the central wards are increasingly expanding, many new bridge routes are being researched, but Bang Giang Bridge is still the "soul" of the provincial center. Therefore, preserving and maintaining the bridge to ensure its stability is not only a technical requirement but also a sentiment and responsibility towards the past and the future.

The Hien - Khanh Viet

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/de-cau-bang-giang-vung-chai-don-tuong-lai-3181431.html