Ô Rô Bridge that straddles the commune of Thành Long. — Photo baotuyenquang.com.vn

 TUYÊN QUANG — The lives of individuals in Hàm Yên District, Tuyên Quang Province, have undergone a significant transformation due to the construction of newly built concrete roads and bridges. These structures now provide all-weather access to essential facilities such as healthcare, schools, and markets.

The construction of 135 km of roads and 18 bridges was initiated through the province's Resolution No.55, outlining the plan for rural infrastructure improvement between 2021 and 2025.

Nguyễn Văn Khuynh, a local resident in Thành Long Commune, voluntarily contributed 740 sqm of his land for Ô Rô Bridge, inaugurated in April after five months of construction. He expressed immense joy for his community involvement.

"With the bridge, villagers no longer need to wade through streams. The worry of unfortunate incidents during rains affecting our family has vanished," said Khuynh.

Khuynh was not alone in giving up land; three others in his village followed suit, contributing a total of 1,500 sqm.

Nguyễn Thị Tám, Chairman of Thành Long Commune, emphasised the resolution's significant impact on the commune, whose challenging terrain is crossed by numerous streams, complicating local mobility.

Since 2012, three bridges and over 11 km of concrete roads have been constructed in the commune, catalysing Thành Long's transformation into a new-style rural commune.

Minh Khương is another commune benefiting from a bridge to enhance transportation. For Phương Thị Bích Ngọc, Head of Minh Hà Village, it is a lifesaver.

"No more wading through streams, no more slip and fall - thanks to the bridge," said Ngọc.

Triệu Ngọc Phúc, Chairman of Minh Khương Commune, highlighted the past challenges of high transportation costs, especially during rainy seasons. However, with the bridge, locals can now transport fruits to markets with ease, significantly reducing costs.

Phạm Hữu Duẫn, Head of Làng Mãn 1 Village, is delighted as the 380m-long road to his village has been revamped with concrete.

He mentioned that four families contributed VNĐ133 million (USD$5,500) to fund the project, with Đỗ Xuân Cương being the largest contributor. Cương's financial support ensured the project's completion in just one month.

"This road has been our dream for many years. When the province supported us with cement, we were determined to make it happen," said Cương.

In Hùng Đức Commune, Tân Thịnh Tuyên Quang LTD is constructing the Đèo Tế Bridge.

Lê Quang Thành, Director of Tân Thịnh Tuyên Quang, acknowledged the challenges due to unfavorable terrain but assured that the company would spare no effort to complete the project by year-end.

"The presence of steep slopes and a large area to clear for construction has made the project particularly demanding. We are surmounting the difficulties to ensure it is completed on schedule," said Thành.

Đặng Thị Sen, a local residing near the bridge, expressed joy at the news of its imminent completion. She shared the challenges of transporting crops across streams, where her motorbike often tilted dangerously.

"I fell several times, whereas some people even broke their legs. The bridge is good news for us," said Sen.

To date, three bridges and 8.6 km of concrete roads have been built in Hùng Đức Commune, significantly improving the lives of local residents. — VN