The Đà Rằng Bridge in the central Phú Yên Province has caved in. – VNA/VNS Photo Thế Lập |
PHÚ YÊN – The people’s committee of the central Phú Yên Province has sought the transport ministry’s approval to build Đà Rằng and Sông Chùa bridges on National Highway 1.
The total investment capital of the project will be about VNĐ1 trillion (US$44.8 million).
Hoàng Văn Trà, chairman of the committee, said on Thursday the two bridges, which connect National Highway 1 to Tuy Hòa City, were built in 1969 and that their condition had badly deteriorated over the past several years.
In 2013, the Đà Rằng Bridge had caved in and got damaged. The local authority had temporarily repaired it and had banned vehicles that can carry more than two tonnes from using the bridge. Vehicles with larger capacities have been forced to use an additional road built in 2003.
Sông Cầu Bridge, located 500m away from Đà Rằng Bridge, was in the same situation with cracks developing along the bridge.
Trà said due to the shortage of funds, the provincial authority could handle only repair and maintenance. This has restricted travel and affected the investment potential of the province.
He said the surplus government bonds for the upgrade of National Highway 1 and the Hồ Chí Minh Road passing through the Central Highland area could be used for rebuilding the two bridges. – VNS