The Prime Minister has requested that the investigation into the damage to the Lo River bridge be concluded by February.

The Prime Minister has requested that the investigation into the damage to the Lo River bridge be completed by February 2026 so that appropriate action can be taken.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the completion of the new Lo River bridge within one year. Photo: Nhat Bac

On the afternoon of February 14th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with central ministries and agencies and Phu Tho province regarding the situation of repairing damage to the Lo River bridge .

According to the People's Committee of Phu Tho province, the project for the Lo River bridge and the hardening of the left embankment of the Lo River was approved by the People's Committee of Phu Tho province on April 21, 2008, with a total investment of 320 billion VND, of which the bridge project accounted for 231 billion VND.

The project was implemented in Doan Hung district (now Doan Hung commune), Phu Tho province; it was inspected and put into operation on November 11, 2015, and the warranty period for the project ended on January 10, 2018.

According to the overall survey and inspection results of the consulting unit on the bridge girder and pier structure, no abnormalities were detected. However, the core concrete test results for some pier foundations and bored piles did not meet the design requirements.

The current foundation structure of piers T3, T4, T5, and T6 is not strong enough to withstand the load according to standard 22TCN 272-05. The damage to the bored piles as mentioned does not meet technical requirements and poses a potential risk to operational safety.

The Phu Tho Provincial Police have decided to initiate criminal proceedings for violations of construction regulations causing serious consequences at the Song Lo Bridge project, during the period from 2010 to 2015, under Clause 3, Article 298 of the Penal Code.

The People's Committee of Phu Tho province has directed the adjustment of the traffic flow management plan across the Lo River bridge to suit practical conditions; and simultaneously proposed two options: a plan to repair and rectify the damage, and a plan to invest in the construction of a new Lo River bridge.

The scene at the meeting. Photo: VGP

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the ministries, agencies, and Phu Tho province for their response to the incident at the Lo River bridge.

The Prime Minister instructed that plans must be developed to meet the travel needs of the people, ensure safety, serve socio-economic development, open up new development opportunities, and ensure national security and defense, especially in the context of the merger of the three former provinces of Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, and Vinh Phuc into the new Phu Tho province and the development needs in the new era.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister requested that the investigation into the damage to the Lo River bridge be completed by February 2026, so that appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the Party's regulations and the State's laws.

Whether or not to repair and continue using the old bridge depends on professional assessment, advice, and supervision. Simultaneously, investment must be made in constructing a new bridge over the Lo River; in the meantime, research and surveys should be conducted to install a pontoon bridge to serve the local population if necessary.

The Prime Minister requested a study on the investment and construction of a new Lo River bridge in accordance with the planning, with a scale equivalent to the new Phong Chau bridge; the design of the new Lo River bridge must draw lessons from the old bridge, aiming for a higher, wider, longer, more aesthetically pleasing, more efficient, and more economical structure; and a more thorough survey must be conducted to respond to extreme climate change.

The head of the government emphasized: The project will not be prolonged, to be completed within one year (before March 1, 2027), striving to ensure that people have a new bridge for travel by the Lunar New Year of 2027. Phu Tho province will be the investor for the new Lo River bridge project; military units will participate in and support Phu Tho province in implementing the project.

Regarding funding, Phu Tho province will be responsible for the rapid land clearance for the project and the approach roads at both ends of the bridge; the central government will support Phu Tho province with funding for the bridge construction from the contingency fund carried over from 2025; absolutely no negative incidents, corruption, or waste will occur.

Source: https://laodong.vn/thoi-su/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-trong-thang-2-ket-luan-dieu-tra-viec-hu-hong-cau-song-lo-1656357.ldo