Kon Tum to repair weak suspension bridges

June 21, 2018 - 14:30

A plan to repair 44 of the weakest suspension bridges in the Kon Tum Central Highlands province was unveiled by provincial transport authorities.

Many suspension bridges’ banisters were rusty and broken, while their body leaned at an angle and the background was decayed. — Photo tapchigiaothong.vn
Viet Nam News

KON TUM — A plan to repair 44 of the weakest suspension bridges in the Kon Tum Central Highlands province was unveiled by provincial transport authorities.

Phan Mười, deputy director of the provincial Department of Transport, said that the department forwarded a proposal to the provincial people’s committee to use funds from different sources to repair the weak suspension bridges.

He also said more warning signs would be installed at the damaged suspension bridges to prohibit people from crossing them. 

As many as 110 of 290 suspension bridges in the province were damaged and unsafe for this year’s flood season, the department said.

However, local residents do not have any choice but to continue using the suspension bridges as there are no alternatives.

Observations made by a correspondent for Transport Magazine showed the suspension bridges’ bannisters were rusty and broken, while their body leaned at an angle and the background was decayed. The bridges also rocked whenever a force was applied to them.

The Đăk Chung Suspension Bridge, which spans the Pô Kô River in Đăk Glei Town, serves as a typical example of the condition of the suspension bridges in the province. All of its welding pieces were rusty and the handrails had peeled off, making residents wary of crossing it.

Local authorities said that Đăk Glei Town had 17 out-of-work suspension bridges. Eleven of the bridges of them were constructed using local residents’ contributions as well as support from local authorities. The remaining six were projects constructed through investments. Many of the suspension bridges were old and had become unsafe over time.

Nghiêm Minh Hiệu, chairman of the Đăk Glei Town People’s Committee, said the committee used VNĐ1 billion (US$43,800) from the local budget to repair the out-of-work suspension bridges. — VNS

 

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