Locals hope the Song Lo bridge will be repaired soon.

After 10 years of use, the Song Lo Bridge has revealed damage to its pile foundations, prompting Phu Tho authorities to issue a traffic ban. With transportation and trade disrupted, local residents are hoping for prompt repairs to the bridge.

The road is longer.

The Song Lo Bridge, connecting the two banks of the Song Lo River in Doan Hung commune, Phu Tho province, was started in 2010 and put into operation in 2015 with a total investment of 215 billion VND. Since its completion, the Song Lo Bridge has opened up opportunities for trade, helping people on the left bank of the Song Lo River to travel more conveniently, thus enabling the economy to keep pace with growth, and ensuring social welfare and security.

After more than 10 years of use, the bored piles of the Song Lo Bridge have revealed damage, causing anxiety and fear among people traveling across the bridge, reminiscent of the Phong Chau Bridge collapse that occurred more than a year ago. Notably, at noon on October 27th, Phu Tho authorities issued notice No. 265/TB-SXD prohibiting all people and vehicles from crossing the Song Lo Bridge starting at 1:30 PM, leaving local residents with no time to adapt.

Comparing the photo (left) taken in April 2021 and the photo (right) taken in November 2025 shows that the level of erosion in the area of ​​pier T6 of the Song Lo Bridge has changed significantly. Photo: Duc Tuyen.

Recalling the moment the bridge was closed, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich (residing in Van Cuong 2 area – Doan Hung commune) said that at around 4:30 AM on October 27th, she took her child to the hospital for a routine check-up, and the Song Lo bridge still allowed vehicles with fewer than 29 seats to pass. However, in the early afternoon of October 27th, the order prohibiting all people and vehicles from crossing the bridge was issued, which surprised her greatly. Afterwards, she had to change her route and take the Kim Xuyen bridge, adding more than 20km to get home.

For Mr. Nguyen Van Bac (residing in Tan Tien area, Doan Hung commune), October 27, 2025, was a sad day. Waking up early that morning, he was shocked to discover his youngest son had died in his room. On October 28, the funeral procession for his son, to be buried in the family cemetery on the left bank of the Lo River in Van Cuong 1 area, became an unprecedentedly arduous river crossing.

Mr. Vu Manh Linh (residing in Sai Linh village, Dong Tho commune, Tuyen Quang province), a driver transporting workers from Dong Tho commune to Phu Ha Industrial Park (Phu Tho province), stated that on the morning of October 27th, he drove across the Song Lo bridge as usual. However, by noon that day, a traffic ban was issued, but due to a lack of information, Mr. Linh continued on his original route, causing dozens of workers to struggle to find ways to cross the river and return home.

According to Mr. Linh, since all cars were banned from crossing the Song Lo Bridge, workers and transport companies have had to leave 30 minutes earlier each day to detour via the Kim Xuyen Bridge, then through the Thanh Ba interchange to access the Tuyen Quang – Phu Tho expressway. This detour adds about 13km to the route across the Song Lo Bridge, meaning transport vehicles have to travel an extra 26km and lose about an hour of driving time each day, while the fare for transporting workers remains unchanged, causing transport companies to suffer double losses.

Comparing the photo (left) taken in October 2023 and the photo (right) taken in November 2025 shows that the level of erosion in the T3-T4 pier area of ​​the Song Lo Bridge has changed insignificantly. Photo: Duc Tuyen.

Prior to the announcement of the traffic ban on the Song Lo Bridge, on October 27th, the People's Committee of Doan Hung Commune issued document 634/UBND-KT stating that the closure of the Song Lo Bridge directly affected more than 2,500 households with nearly 9,700 people in 19 residential areas of the former Hop Nhat Commune (now part of Doan Hung Commune). Therefore, the People's Committee of Doan Hung Commune requested the People's Committee of Phu Tho Province to direct the Department of Construction and related units to study and propose a temporary traffic plan that ensures safety while facilitating people's travel, education, and work.

Waiting for bridge repairs

To assess the dynamic displacement of bridge abutments and piers, the Road Engineering Center used a 2-axle truck with a total vehicle and cargo weight of 13 tons to measure the oscillations and displacements of multiple abutments and piers and analyze the oscillation graphs. The results showed that the condition of the abutments and piers was satisfactory with this test vehicle load. In addition, the report also stated that the riverbed at pier T5 had eroded to the limestone layer and had not eroded further since the survey was conducted last year.

The exposed damage has caused residents to worry about the quality and lifespan of the Song Lo Bridge. Photo: Duc Tuyen.

Based on the preliminary inspection and assessment results, the Road Engineering Center recommends that pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, and passenger cars with 7 seats or fewer be allowed to cross the bridge. Simultaneously, traffic should be rerouted, speed limit signs of 20 km/h should be posted, and trucks, buses, and cars with more than 7 seats should be prohibited from crossing the bridge. Importantly, measures should be taken to prevent collisions between boats and ships and the bridge's foundation.

On November 2nd, the Department of Construction of Phu Tho province issued notice No. 277/TB-SXD allowing two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles, motorbikes (including electric motorbikes), and other rudimentary road vehicles and pedestrians to cross the Song Lo Bridge. Vehicles crossing the Song Lo Bridge must travel at a maximum speed of 20 km/h and are not allowed to stop or park on the bridge.

The ban on cars crossing the Lo River bridge has significantly impacted the travel and trade of local residents. Photo: Duc Tuyen.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong, the owner of a grocery store in Van Cuong 1 area (Doan Hung commune, Phu Tho province), shared that the authorities allowing pedestrians, cyclists, and motorbikes to cross the bridge is welcome. However, the restriction on car traffic across the bridge has made transporting goods difficult. Wholesalers wanting to transport goods across the Lo River have to split their shipments into smaller quantities using motorbikes in multiple trips, or if they use cars, they have to detour via the Kim Xuyen bridge, adding an extra 30km each way.

Mr. Hoang Van Long (residing in Van Cuong 2 area – Doan Hung commune) stated that on November 19th, a traffic accident occurred in the area, resulting in serious injuries to Ms. Phan Thi Hoa (born in 1968). Since the bridge was closed to cars, they couldn't call a taxi, and waiting for an ambulance would take an additional 30km, adding about an hour to the journey. Therefore, Mr. Long and Mr. Luy used a motorbike to transport the victim across the river to the Doan Hung Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment.

Mr. Hoang Duc Quang (residing in Van Cuong 2 area – Doan Hung commune) said that for the past month, every time he returned from Yen Bai, he had to leave his car at the bridge on the right bank of the Lo River, then call relatives to come pick him up on motorbikes. Mr. Quang hopes that the inspection and repair of the Song Lo Bridge will be completed soon so that the daily life and trade of local people can return to the rhythm they have had for the past 10 years.

Local residents are hoping that the repairs to the damaged Song Lo Bridge will be completed soon so that travel and trade can be facilitated. Photo: Duc Tuyen.

Speaking with a reporter from the Vietnam Law Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Chi Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction of Phu Tho province, stated that according to Decision No. 38/2025/QD-UBND dated September 19, 2025, the People's Committee of Phu Tho province authorized the Department of Construction to manage, operate, exploit, and maintain roads with the routes under its management as stipulated in Article 36 of the Road Law. Based on document No. 164/CV-KHKT from Phu Tho Road Joint Stock Company and document No. 350/TTKTĐB-KHCN&MT from the Road Technical Center, the Department of Construction issued notice No. 265/TB-SXD prohibiting all people and vehicles from crossing the Song Lo bridge from 1:30 PM on October 27, 2025. Following the load test conducted on November 1st, the Department of Construction issued Notice No. 277/TB-SXD stating that only automobile traffic across the Song Lo Bridge will be prohibited from November 2nd.

According to the Deputy Director of the Phu Tho Department of Construction, repairs are expected to begin in early December 2025 to ensure completion before the rainy season as required by the province. A repair plan has been drawn up and reviewed, but it has not been assigned to the contractor that built the Song Lo Bridge, the Urban and Industrial Zone Development Investment Joint Stock Company (UDIDECO).

On November 23rd, the People's Committee of Phu Tho province issued Official Document No. 9800/UBND-CN2 regarding the urgent completion of a report on the implementation results and proposed repair and remediation plans for the Song Lo bridge. Accordingly, the Department of Construction is responsible for completing the procedures to implement repairs and put the bridge into operation in March 2026.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nguoi-dan-mong-som-sua-cau-song-lo.html