Horrifyingly leaning bridge in Xuan Ai

LAO CAI - The suspension bridge in Xuan Ai, over 60 years old, is dilapidated and leaning precariously due to storms. Locals are hoping the government will invest in replacing it with a reinforced concrete bridge.

The suspension bridge over the Ngoi Thia stream in Yen Phu village, Xuan Ai commune, has seriously deteriorated due to storms and strong winds. Photo: Thanh Tien.

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The suspension bridge over the Ngoi Thia stream in Yen Phu village, Xuan Ai commune, Lao Cai province, is a vital transportation link for more than 1,000 households on both banks.

Following the thunderstorm on May 27th, the bridge has become unstable, tilting and shaking violently when people cross it, posing a potential risk of collapse at any time.

Local authorities have put up barriers and signs prohibiting people and vehicles from crossing the bridge since May 28, 2026; however, many people still risk crossing the barriers on foot.

The Yen Phu suspension bridge is an important transportation project serving the travel and trade needs of the people between the center of Xuan Ai commune and surrounding villages and areas.

This bridge, built in the 1960s, is 130 meters long, nearly 3 meters wide, and has a load capacity of 2.5 tons. It is designed with two pillars at each end, connected by suspension cables and a system of beams and a bridge deck.

Local authorities have closed the bridge to ensure safety. Photo: Thanh Tien.

After decades of use, the bridge has seriously deteriorated.

Every year, the local authorities carry out costly maintenance and repairs; however, the bridge is damaged again after each rainy season. This situation not only threatens the safety of residents and students who cross it daily, but also directly hinders the socio -economic development of the locality.

Mr. Do Kim Tuyen, a resident of Yen Phu village, said: "To get to the cinnamon plantation area, instead of going over 1 km across the bridge, we are forced to take a detour of nearly 10 kilometers. Because the bridge is weak, motorized vehicles such as cars and tractors are prohibited from passing through. This has caused agricultural production and transportation to be disrupted, and production costs have increased."

The fragmented transportation network is hindering the lives and development potential of the entire region.

Local residents have repeatedly petitioned and hoped that the authorities at all levels would soon invest in building a sturdy, solid bridge. Only then can the people feel secure in their work and production, facilitate trade, and ensure long-term economic stability.”

Many locals risk their lives crossing the tilted bridge. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Besides the economic impact, many people are being forced to risk their own safety to save time.

Having just returned from harvesting corn, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bien walked across the bridge, sharing her inconvenience and fatigue caused by the disrupted transportation. To transport agricultural products home, her family has to hire motorized vehicles to take a very long detour. If they went across the bridge, the journey would only take about 15 minutes, but currently, both the time and cost have increased.

The biggest worry for the people here is not only the arduous harvests, but also the safety of their children every day on their way to school.

Parents are faced with a dilemma: they may have to risk taking their children across the bridge, or they may have to keep their children home from school to ensure their safety.

The houses are right on the other side of the bridge, so people still take the risk to shorten their travel time. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Ms. Bien earnestly expressed her wish: "We, the people here, earnestly hope that the government will invest in building a reinforced concrete bridge connecting the two banks to ensure the safety of our people and help transform this area."

A yearning for a new bridge.

Ms. Ta Thi Phuong, head of Yen Phu village, said that difficult transportation is becoming a major obstacle to the livelihoods of the people.

Due to transportation difficulties, key agricultural products such as corn, rice, and cinnamon are often sold at prices lower than the general market rate, causing farmers to suffer double losses.

Some students cross the bridge during the end-of-year school ceremony. Photo: Thanh Tien.

The worst times are during the rainy season or when bridges need repair, forcing people to wade through streams or travel by raft, which is extremely dangerous. Even more heartbreaking, many funeral processions struggle to cross the stream by boat.

Ms. Phuong recalled with a haunting memory: "During the storm the other day, the bridge was blown around by the wind like a dragon, it looked terrifying. The constant feeling of insecurity meant that hundreds of households here had only one desire: to have a sturdy concrete bridge built soon."

For many years, hundreds of households using the bridge have lived in constant anxiety. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Although suspending circulation will cause significant disruption to daily life, education, and the agricultural supply chain, this is an urgent measure that cannot be postponed.

Given the urgent situation and limited professional assessment capacity, the local authorities have requested the Department of Construction of Lao Cai province to promptly inspect and assess the extent of the damage in order to develop a timely solution.

Mr. Luu Trung Kien, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xuan Ai commune, expressed that the locality earnestly hopes that the People's Committee of Lao Cai province and relevant departments and agencies will consider adding the construction of a durable, long-lasting reinforced concrete bridge to the list of public investment projects.

Local residents share the desire for the bridge to be replaced with a reinforced concrete one. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Investing in replacing the Yen Phu suspension bridge early on also has strategic significance in unlocking the economic potential of the entire region. This area is currently being planned to become a key agricultural development zone.

The farmers' production goals are no longer limited to rice cultivation to ensure food security as before, but are strongly shifting towards high-value economic models such as mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, cinnamon cultivation, and high-quality rice production for export.

The new bridge will ensure the safety of residents and expand development space. Photo: Thanh Tien.

To realize that aspiration, a sturdy, solid bridge is a prerequisite. This project will create strong inter-regional connectivity, boost the development of the entire Yen Phu area, and significantly shorten the distance for trade with major transportation routes such as provincial roads 166 and 175.

When replaced with a new bridge and seamlessly connected to the paved Class 5 road running through the Yen Hop, Yen Phu, Vien Son, and Xuan Ai areas, the capacity for goods transportation will be significantly increased. This will create a solid foundation for the local economy to thrive.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hai-hung-cay-cau-nghieng-o-xuan-ai-d814316.html