The Đoan Hùng pontoon bridge in Đoan Hùng commune, Phú Thọ province, constructed at lightning speed by the 249th Engineering Brigade of the Engineering Corps in coordination with other forces, not only connects the two banks of the river but also strengthens the bond of trust and affection between the military and the people, profoundly demonstrating the spirit of "serving the people".
Commands from the heart
Following the directives of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Minister of National Defense regarding the urgent construction of a pontoon bridge connecting the two banks of the Lo River in Doan Hung commune, Phu Tho province, to serve the transportation needs of the people during the Lunar New Year, on the night of February 15th (the night of the 28th of the Lunar month), the Engineering Command directed the 249th Engineering Brigade to mobilize 160 officers and soldiers along with 90 specialized vehicles and machinery to the site to carry out the task.
Given the strong currents and complex construction conditions, the technical plans were meticulously calculated based on the flow velocity, riverbed stability, bridge load capacity, anchoring methods, access roads to the docks, vehicle assembly points, command and control areas, and troop encampments.
Every detail has been carefully considered, ensuring absolute safety and the fastest possible progress.
Major General Tran Trung Hoa, Commander of the Engineering Corps, stated that the workload is enormous, requiring high concentration and technical precision. However, above all, it is the sense of responsibility and determination of the officers and soldiers that prevail.
Many comrades were on Tet holiday leave; some had just returned home to reunite with their families after a year of work, while others were preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year with their parents, wives, and children... but when assigned the task, everyone immediately set aside their personal joys, quickly returned to their units, and set off to carry out the mission without hesitation.
It wasn't just about obeying orders, but also about "orders from the heart"—orders of responsibility, of affection for the people.
The noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers have once again been affirmed in times of hardship.
In just two days of intensive construction, Brigade 249, in coordination with the forces of Military Region 2 and local forces, mobilized nearly 800 people and equipment to complete two access roads to and from the Left Bank wharf in the Dong Tam area, 75m long and 10m wide; and the Right Bank wharf in the Dai Hoi area, 89m long and 11m wide, with a total of 70,000 m³ of earth and rock being leveled and excavated.
It wasn't just about obeying orders, but also about "orders from the heart"—orders of responsibility, of affection for the people.
After ensuring all technical conditions were met, the construction team proceeded with rotating the bridge to complete the joining process.
In just 90 minutes of installation, at exactly 8:00 AM on February 16th (the 29th day of the Lunar New Year), the 60-ton PMP pontoon bridge, with a total length of 220.25m, consisting of 31 offshore sections and 2 abutment sections, was completed, capable of supporting a load of 60 tons, officially connecting the two banks.
Because the bridge is open.
Not only did the military forces work tirelessly day and night, but the local people also wholeheartedly joined forces. With the spirit of "all for a smooth bridge," many households were willing to clear the land, voluntarily cut down crops, and dismantle structures to hand over the land to the construction unit as soon as possible.
Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan from Doan Hung commune shared: “When we learned that the Party and the State had decided to build a pontoon bridge to facilitate travel during Tet, the people in the area were very happy and excited. Many households voluntarily harvested their crops and handed over the land for the construction unit to build the access road. Everyone hopes the bridge will be completed soon so that people will have less hardship.”
Another resident, Ms. Tran Thi Nam, said: “Just yesterday, where I'm standing here was a cornfield and vegetable patch. But today it has become a solidly reinforced road. This Tet holiday, people on both sides of the river can travel much more conveniently. Children going to school and workers going to work no longer have to go dozens of kilometers around like before, saving both time and costs.” The joy of the people is clear evidence of the practical significance of the project.
On average, about 14,000 to 15,000 people and vehicles cross the pontoon bridge each day. The high volume of traffic, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), places high demands on ensuring technical safety and traffic order.
Colonel Nguyen Dang Chien, Head of the Propaganda Department of the Engineering Corps, said: “The unit maintains a 24-hour duty team, regularly inspecting the bridge's surface, anchor points, and monitoring water levels to make timely adjustments to the bridge sections. The joints are regularly maintained to ensure the bridge operates smoothly and safely for the people. During the Tet holiday, officers and soldiers are divided into shifts so that everyone has time to celebrate. Local authorities and people regularly visit and encourage us. That is a great source of motivation for us to successfully complete our mission.”
On average, about 14,000 to 15,000 people and vehicles cross the pontoon bridge each day. The high volume of traffic, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), places high demands on ensuring technical safety and traffic order.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Doan Hung pontoon bridge, General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and Deputy Minister of National Defense, affirmed: The Doan Hung pontoon bridge is a project of special significance, not only in terms of transportation, but also demonstrating the spirit of responsibility and the strong bond between the military and the people.
He expressed his emotion at the readiness of the forces participating in building the bridge to accept and complete all tasks.
Many officers and soldiers were on Tet holiday leave, but upon receiving the order, they immediately set off, putting aside personal joys for the common good. This spirit is a vivid manifestation of their courage, responsibility, and dedication to serving the people, considering helping the people as a command from the heart.
In his letter commending the agencies and units for their "lightning-fast" construction of the pontoon bridge across the Lo River, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged, highly appreciated, and warmly praised the determination, high sense of responsibility, and "lightning-fast" progress of the Ministry of National Defense , the Engineering Corps, and related agencies and units that closely coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, and the people of Phu Tho province to excellently complete the assigned task. This demonstrates the "selfless dedication to the people" spirit of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," reflecting the fine nature of our army, which originates from the people, fights for the people, and is intimately connected with the people.
On the Lo River today, vehicles continuously cross the bridge, carrying the joy of reunion and goods to support production and business at the beginning of the year. This bridge not only connects the two banks of the river but also strengthens the people's trust in the Party, the State, and the Vietnam People's Army.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/noi-doi-bo-mua-xuan-post944080.html
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