The truth about the collapse of Ha Tan bridge (old)

3(2).jpg — Ha Tan Bridge (older) is an overflow bridge, and in the rainy season, the water rises and makes it impossible to travel. Photo: Local source

Two old Ha Tan bridges

In the context of Dai Loc district suffering heavy damage to trees and crops due to a sudden flood in the dry season, information about the collapse of Ha Tan bridge (old) was posted on social media, causing a stir in public opinion. Many people mistakenly thought that Ha Tan bridge (old) was the bridge used before Ha Tan bridge (new) was completed and put into operation.

In fact, before the end of 2024, Dai Lanh commune had 2 old bridges, both named "Ha Tan". Of the 2 old bridges, one connects Tan An and Tan Ha villages via a rural road (temporarily called the older Ha Tan bridge). The remaining bridge is located on DT609 route and also connects Tan An and Tan Ha villages, through the administrative center of Dai Lanh commune (temporarily called the old Ha Tan bridge).

1(2).jpg — Floodwaters collapsed the second span of the Ha Tan Bridge (older), counting from the East bank bridgehead. Photo provided by local authorities

Local leaders said that Ha Tan Bridge (older) was built during the French colonial period and was repaired and upgraded once in 1988-1989. Because the rural traffic route runs across Ha Tan Market, this bridge serves the needs of goods circulation and people's travel mainly by light trucks, cars, motorbikes and pedestrians. Because it is an overflow bridge, during the rainy season, water crossing must stop and stop flowing.

The Ha Tan Bridge (old) is located on the DT609 route, which is more solid, but was also built a long time ago, 300m upstream from the Ha Tan Bridge (older). This bridge is located on a curve, making it unsafe for people and vehicles to travel. Due to the small cross-section, vehicles, especially passenger cars and large trucks, can only travel in one direction. Furthermore, the bridge is also damaged and severely degraded.

New sturdy bridge

On April 22, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee agreed to invest in Ha Tan Bridge (new) at km37+800, part of the project to upgrade and expand DT609 route. The total investment for the project is more than 54.2 billion VND. Accordingly, the bridge is 11m wide with a permanent scale, the roadbed at both ends of the bridge is 7.5m wide.

Construction of Ha Tan Bridge (new) located near Ha Tan Bridge (old), photo taken in August 2022. Photo: CONG TU

The Ha Tan Bridge (new) is being built near the Ha Tan Bridge (old) downstream. The project could be open to traffic near the end of 2023. On February 28, 2025, the Department of Construction issued a record of acceptance of the completion of the Ha Tan Bridge (new), officially removing another "bottleneck" on route DT609 through zone A of Dai Loc, to Dong Giang.

Previously, the Department of Construction had consulted and received permission from the Provincial People's Committee to liquidate and demolish the old Ha Tan Bridge. The liquidation and demolition work was completed at the end of 2024. The authorities have carefully fenced off the approach road to the old bridge. Thus, since the end of 2024, the old Ha Tan Bridge no longer exists.

Regarding Ha Tan Bridge (older), Vice Chairman of Dai Lanh Commune People's Committee - Mr. Tran Ngoc Diep said that on June 12 and 13, the circulation of storm No. 1 (Wutip) caused prolonged heavy rain, fierce floods and completely collapsed the second span of the bridge, counting from the East bank bridge head. In addition, the strong current caused the entire approach road surface of the East bank bridge abutment to peel off.

2(2).jpg — The road surface of Ha Tan bridge (older) is peeling off. Photo provided by local authorities.

The locality has barricaded both ends of the bridge and issued notices to the villages, and announced on the commune's radio system to inform people and redirect traffic to the Ha Tan (new) bridge. This morning, the commune has sent a report to the district People's Committee and the district's functional departments for monitoring and direction.

Thus, the collapse of Ha Tan bridge (older) does not greatly affect the traffic of people and vehicles, because 300m away there is a new Ha Tan bridge (new) which has been invested in solidly and has a wide cross-section.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/thuc-hu-thong-tin-cau-ha-tan-cu-bi-sap-3156762.html