Hanoi: Lifting the ban on people and vehicles crossing Long Bien Bridge and Duong Bridge from 3:00 p.m. this afternoon

The Hanoi Department of Transport has just announced the restoration of traffic organization plans on Long Bien Bridge and Duong Bridge in Hanoi.

Accordingly, the Department of Transport will restore traffic organization on Long Bien Bridge (Km3+056) of the Hanoi-Dong Dang railway line for pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, and two-wheeled vehicles to cross Long Bien Bridge in both directions. Restore traffic organization on Duong Bridge (Km9+667) of the Hanoi-Dong Dang railway line for pedestrians and vehicles to cross Duong Bridge in both directions (trucks with a load capacity of over 13 tons are prohibited from crossing the bridge).

“The implementation time starts from 3:00 p.m. today (September 13),” said Mr. Tran Huu Bao, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport.

The Hanoi Department of Transport requested the Vietnam Railway Authority to direct Ha Hai Railway Joint Stock Company to withdraw all vehicle prohibition signs and direction signs for vehicles at both ends of Long Bien Bridge and Duong Bridge (in Long Bien District, Gia Lam District); continue to monitor the flood water level on Duong River and Red River to promptly update and propose traffic organization plans on the bridge to ensure safety for people and vehicles traveling across the bridge.

The Traffic Police Department of the City Police maintains forces to inspect and handle violations of traffic safety and urban order on routes and intersections; monitor and evaluate traffic situations on routes and areas to promptly detect problems and propose appropriate traffic organization adjustments.

The People's Committees of Hoan Kiem, Long Bien and Gia Lam districts announced the content of the traffic restoration plan to the local authorities at both ends of the bridge to guide people to travel safely and conveniently.

The Transport Management Department notifies bus stations, transport businesses, and bus operators to restore routes in accordance with the traffic organization and flow plan.

The Department of Transport Infrastructure Management continues to monitor and regularly update the flood situation after the storm and assess the traffic situation through Long Bien Bridge, Duong Bridge and neighboring areas to promptly detect any shortcomings, propose solutions and report to the leaders of the Department of Transport for adjustments to suit the actual traffic situation.

The Department of Transport Inspectorate shall arrange forces to coordinate with relevant units to organize and guide traffic flow according to the traffic organization adjustment plan; monitor and evaluate the traffic situation on the route and area to promptly detect any problems and propose appropriate traffic organization adjustment plans.

The Hanoi City Traffic Management and Operation Center is coordinating with bus transport units to restore bus routes across Duong Bridge to promptly meet people's travel needs.

Previously, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) sent a document to the Hanoi People's Committee regarding the lifting of the road blockade order across Duong Bridge and Long Bien Bridge on the Hanoi-Dong Dang railway line.

Through an on-site inspection at Long Bien Bridge at 12:00 on September 13, the water level was 3.6m from the bottom of Long Bien girder; 2.35m from the bottom of Duong bridge girder; the water level is currently below alert level 2.

In addition, according to information from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the weather in the northern provinces is showing signs of improvement, with rainfall upstream and flood discharge from hydropower plants decreasing.

VNR has organized a static inspection of the upper structure of the railway and road bridges of Long Bien and Duong bridges to ensure technical parameters. VNR has reported to the competent authorities that it has conducted a safe test train run over Long Bien and Duong bridges.

After the test train ran according to regulations, VNR checked all technical factors and ensured they were within the allowable limits.

To ensure transportation needs and facilitate people's travel across the bridge, VNR proposes that the Hanoi People's Committee lift the ban on all people and vehicles participating in traffic on Long Bien Bridge and Duong Bridge from 1:00 p.m. on September 13./.