Fines are being issues for overloaded trucks travelling on the Thăng Long Bridge. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - The drivers of overloaded trucks on the Thăng Long Bridge in Hà Nội are being strictly fined to protect the bridge, said Phan Thị Thu Hiền, deputy director of the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam (DRVN).

The DRVN reported that from January 7-17, it issued fines for 21 overloaded trucks on the Thăng Long Bridge, worth a total of VNĐ400 million.

The Thăng Long Bridge was reopened to traffic on January 7 after five months of repairs. The VNĐ270 billion (US$11.6 million) project to repair the bridge was paid for by the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Xuân Lâm, deputy director of Road Management Department 1, under the DRVN, said since January 7, traffic inspectors were divided into three shifts around the clock all day.

Each shift included six inspectors, three from the Road Management Department 1 and three others from the Hà Nội Department of Transport.

Officials of the load-weight station at Võ Văn Kiệt Street were in charge of examining the vehicle load of trucks moving to the Thăng Long Bridge (from Nội Bài International Airport to the city centre) and employed to check the entire ring road No3.

The Road Management Administration 1 proposed the DRVN request the city Police Department and Department of Transport to increase patrols on roads south of the Thăng Long Bridge to aid these efforts.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony on January 7,  Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng asked the Ministry of Transport to control trucks crossing the bridge to ensure their loads would not exceed regulations.

The Thăng Long Bridge was built from 1974 to 1985. It was the only road connecting Hà Nội’s city centre to Nội Bài Airport until the Nhật Tân Bridge opened in 2015.

The bridge has two levels, with the upper deck for cars and lorries and the lower deck for motorbikes, bicycles and trains. — VNS