Phong Chau Bridge Collapse: Why Can't a Floating Bridge Be Installed?

TPO - The water level of the Red River passing through Phu Tho province has dropped to alert level 1 but is still flowing rapidly, so it has not yet met the technical requirements for installing a temporary pontoon bridge. Currently, police and military forces are using canoes to search for missing victims.

On the afternoon of September 14, the water level of the Red River at Phong Chau Bridge (Tam Nong District, Phu Tho Province) had receded to below alert level one, but the flow was still very strong.

Therefore, not only is the search and rescue of victims facing difficulties and obstacles, but the installation of a pontoon bridge across the river has not yet been carried out.

Today, authorities also salvaged the bridge girder that fell into the river, about 20 meters from the bridge - where it is suspected that a truck got stuck when it fell into the river.

About 50 police and military officers and soldiers drove canoes to search for the victims. In recent days, the Red River has been rising and flowing rapidly.

The search area for the victims was expanded from the upstream of Phong Chau bridge to the end of Tam Nong district, stretching dozens of kilometers. In addition to using detection equipment and closely observing the middle of the river, the police and army also drove boats close to the river's edge, in case any victims were drifted away.

On shore, forces were also deployed to search.

At the land downstream of Phong Chau bridge in Huong Non commune, about one kilometer from Phong Chau bridge, the 249th River Crossing Engineer Brigade has brought many vehicles and equipment to prepare for the installation of the pontoon bridge.

Lieutenant Colonel Truong Hong Son - Deputy Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff of Brigade 249 - said that the unit has mobilized 198 soldiers and 78 vehicles to serve the search and set up a temporary pontoon bridge to replace the Phong Chau bridge which has just collapsed 2 spans. However, due to the current, the necessary factors have not been ensured in terms of technology, so the pontoon bridge has not been installed yet.

“The unit determined that the bridge must be built as soon as possible to facilitate people's travel. However, the installation of the pontoon bridge must depend on the actual flow, weather and terrain. To ensure the installation of the pontoon bridge, the flow velocity must be below 2m/s. In addition, the unit must conduct a survey of the locations for installing the bridge's cable system 500m from the source; build anchor columns, and access roads at both ends of the wharf,” said Lieutenant Colonel Son.

Brigade 249 also carries two types of canoes, regular canoes and electromagnetic canoes, to carry out the mission.

29 pontoons are stored in metal "barrels".

According to the representative of Brigade 249, when installed, the bridge width is 6.5m, can withstand a vehicle load of about 15 tons, ensuring traffic circulation.

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 249 regularly check vehicles and equipment to ensure absolute requirements for performing tasks when ordered.

Life jackets and other equipment needed to perform the task are fully equipped.

Phong Chau Bridge crosses the Red River, connecting Lam Thao and Tam Nong districts of Phu Tho province, and has been in operation since 1995. The bridge is 375m long, with 8 spans, the outer spans are prestressed reinforced concrete beams, the main spans are made of steel truss structure, and the bridge piers are made of reinforced concrete. At around 10am on September 9, 2 spans of Phong Chau Bridge collapsed, causing 3 cars, 6 motorbikes, and an electric car to fall into the river. 3 people were rescued, 8 people are still missing.

Tienphong.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/vu-sap-cau-phong-chau-vi-sao-chua-the-lap-dat-cau-phao-post1673193.tpo