Tân Nghĩa Bridge in Cao Lãnh District, the southern province of Đồng Tháp after it collapsed on May 31. — Photo  baogiaothong.vn

ĐỒNG THÁP — Tân Nghĩa Bridge in Cao Lãnh District, the southern province of Đồng Tháp was reopened for traffic on Tuesday – 18 days after it collapsed on May 31.

Vehicles weighing up to five tonnes and a height of less than three metres are allowed to use the bridge. Before its collapse in May, the 11-year-old bridge could deal with vehicles with a load of eight tonnes.

The collapse occurred while a truck was crossing the bridge. The middle section broke, sending the truck and part of the bridge crashing down onto a boat in the water below.

On June 1, local authorities used a crane to lift the truck out of the water.

Nguyễn Hồng Sự, chairman of Cao Lãnh District, said on Wednesday that the police were investigating the collapse and assessing the damage.

Tân Nghĩa Bridge across Tháp Mười No2 channel is on a major route in Cao Lãnh District. Its construction started in June 2005 with an investment of more than VNĐ5 billion (US$215,685) under a Build-Operate-Transfer contract. It was opened to traffic in December 2007.

The bridge collapse happened three months after its collection term ended. — VNS