Repairing Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge ensures safe operation during this year's storm season.

Identifying disaster prevention and search and rescue (PCTT-TKCN) as one of the key tasks of the industry, the Department of Construction focuses on directing with the motto of prevention as the main thing; prevention before natural disasters occur and quickly handling the consequences caused by natural disasters. Thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the direction of the Ministry of Construction, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial PCTT and TKCN Command Committee to propose appropriate PCTT-TKCN plans; strengthen inspection work, avoid subjectivity and lack of responsibility. Attach importance to on-site preparation and deploy work to ensure safety of traffic works before the rainy and stormy season. In order to proactively and effectively respond to unusual situations during the stormy season, for the road and waterway systems, the Department requires units performing regular maintenance to proactively inspect and organize regular maintenance according to the monthly, quarterly and 2025 plans for the road and waterway systems managed by their units, inspect weak bridges, bridges at risk of collision due to the rapid increase in the number of inland waterway vehicles, road and inland waterway signaling systems to promptly supplement signs, signal lights, anti-collision equipment; strengthen road patrols, organize channel inspections to handle incidents, violations of road and waterway safety corridors to better serve the task of PCTT-TKCN. Strictly implement PCTT-TKCN plans, plans to respond to natural disasters and overcome the consequences of natural disasters of the industry. For river crossing points such as Sa Cao - Thai Hac ferry on provincial road 489, Ninh My ferry on provincial road 488C, Dai Noi ferry on National Highway 21B, Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge on National Highway 37B, there must be a plan to dredge the hidden lock, dredge the wharf head; check road signs, inland waterways, pits, cable anchors, repair buoys, ferries, register and inspect watercraft according to regulations, supplement life buoys, cables, spare supplies. Organize inspections of river crossing passenger terminals, resolutely suspend operations of terminals that do not meet safety requirements such as: Operating license, vehicle registration, driver's certificate, full provision of life jackets and life buoys, insurance for vehicles... At the same time, the Department requires the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Departments of districts and cities to closely coordinate with the functional departments and offices of the Department to have a plan to inspect and remind vehicle owners to ensure traffic during the rainy and stormy season for important river crossing terminals.

To proactively and effectively respond to natural disasters, the Department has developed a plan to ensure traffic during the rainy and stormy season. When a natural disaster occurs, the agencies, units under the Department, and traffic management units must be on duty 24/7 to closely monitor the situation; concentrate forces and means, establish a command information system, closely monitor the development of natural disasters to proactively and promptly deploy disaster prevention and control plans. For pontoon bridges and ferry terminals in the province, the Department of Construction requires regular management and maintenance units to be responsible for monitoring wind levels from the Central Hydrometeorological Station, the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue to immediately deploy the work of anchoring, hiding buoys, and ferries in the docks to stop operations when storms are at level 6, and floods are at level 2 or higher. When natural disasters and floods occur, buoys and ferries at river crossing points must be hidden and cannot operate. The routes identified as backup for traffic diversion include provincial routes 487, 488, 489C, 488C, 490C, 486B, ... and district routes have been invested synchronously in the area. The Department of Construction assigns the Nam Dinh Traffic Infrastructure Maintenance Management Board and the Department of Economy, Infrastructure and Urban Areas of districts and cities to take measures to inspect and organize regular maintenance of backup routes to serve well and meet traffic diversion requirements. When natural disasters occur, causing damage to bridges and roads, causing traffic congestion, units must quickly coordinate with the Department of Construction, the District-level Disaster Prevention and Control Command Board to determine the damage status and propose a plan to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, ensuring traffic according to regulations in the shortest time; At the same time, report to superiors to notify the mass media to let everyone know and take precautions. The road management unit immediately deploys measures to clear road congestion, clean up trees, and clear drainage to ensure traffic immediately after storms, floods, and natural disasters. Traffic diversion plan when pontoon bridges and ferries at river crossings stop operating: When Dai Noi ferry stops operating to move from Truc Noi to Truc Dai commune (Truc Ninh), Hai Hau, vehicles in the direction of National Highway 21B, Provincial Road 488B or 487 to National Highway 21 pass Lac Quan bridge (crossing Ninh Co river) to Xuan Truong and Hai Hau districts and vice versa; When Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge stops operating, vehicles from Nghia Hung district to Truc Ninh and Hai Hau districts following provincial roads 490C, 488B or 487 to National Highway 21 passing Lac Quan bridge (crossing Ninh Co river) to Xuan Truong and Hai Hau districts or following provincial road 490C to Thinh Long bridge to Hai Hau and vice versa...

In the face of climate change and irregular natural disasters, the work of disaster prevention and control needs to be given utmost attention. To successfully complete the task, the Construction Industry's Disaster Prevention and Control Board requires units to be proactive and creative, ready to cope with all developments of storms, floods, and natural disasters, and to fight against subjective thinking. Heads of units must directly direct the development of specific and detailed programs and plans and coordinate with all levels and sectors to implement the 2025 disaster prevention and control plan according to the proposed plan. Implement well the motto of minimizing damage to people and property of the State and people when natural disasters occur, ensuring the safety of the province's traffic system, smooth traffic, contributing to stabilizing life, developing the economy - society, and national defense and security in the province.

Article and photos: Thanh Trung