Khanh Hoa: People waiting for the construction of a concrete bridge connecting the two banks of the Cai River

Phu Kieng wooden bridge was swept away by flood. By: HIEU GIANG

Early morning of December 9, Pham Nguyen Minh Nhat (grade 6, Cao Thang Secondary School) and his mother were present at the North bank of Cai River waiting for the boat to cross to the South bank to go to school. Each trip carried 5-8 students. The captain asked the students to wear life jackets and maintain order before leaving the dock. The boat was owned by a resident of Xuan Ngoc hamlet, temporarily serving to transport students and residents while waiting for the government to arrange a canoe to ensure safety.

Before being swept away by the flood, Phu Kieng wooden bridge (nearly 3m wide, 350m long) was the main way for people in three groups Xuan Ngoc, Hon Nghe 1 and Hon Nghe 2 on the North bank of Cai River. After the historic flood in mid-November, the bridge collapsed and has not been restored yet. People wanting to go to the ward center have to go around more than 10km or cross the river by boat.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nam (63 years old) said that because of concern for her three children, her family had to hire a motorbike taxi to take them on a roundabout route, which cost millions of dong each month. She hopes that the locality will soon build a concrete bridge to reduce the difficulties during the rainy season.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuan (63 years old, Bac Nha Trang ward) is the person who built Phu Kieng wooden bridge 24 years ago to serve the traffic and collect maintenance fees. This year, the flood water rose suddenly, he did not have time to dismantle the bridge, currently hiring workers to salvage steel bars, wooden planks... that can still be used to build a temporary bridge, expected to take about a month. "This area has been planned to build a concrete bridge. I will ask for permission to move the temporary bridge closer to the planned location so that people have a temporary road while waiting for the new bridge," said Mr. Thuan.

Vice Chairman of Tay Nha Trang Ward People's Committee Nguyen Chi Dung said that while waiting for the bridge to be restored, the ward has assigned the professional department to advise and allocate funds to rent canoes to transport students across the river at fixed times, ensuring safety.

On December 3, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province approved the project to build Phu Kieng bridge with reinforced concrete, nearly 370m long, with a total investment of nearly 600 billion VND. The project is invested by the Provincial Development Project Management Board; the bridge connects Xuan Ngoc group (North bank) with Luong Dinh Cua street (South bank), implemented in the period of 2024-2027. The project aims to complete the urban traffic network, increase the ability to connect the two banks of Cai river and expand the urban space of Tay Nha Trang ward.

HIEU JIANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khanh-hoa-nguoi-dan-cho-xay-cau-be-tong-noi-doi-bo-song-cai-post827750.html