Danger lurks from dilapidated suspension bridges

Ha Doi suspension bridge in Tra Hoa village, Thanh Bong commune is 60 meters long. After 24 years of use, the bridge has seriously degraded. Many beams and planks of the bridge are rotten, with many large gaps. Because it is no longer safe, the commune People's Committee has put up warning signs, restricting people and vehicles from passing. However, some people still ride motorbikes across the bridge, others have to wade through streams, which is potentially dangerous as the flood season approaches. Mr. Ho Van Thai in Tra Hoa village shared: " Every time I cross the bridge, I am very scared, because when I cross, I have to repair the planks, but my car's wheels often collapse. During the rainy season, I don't dare to go, I have to go around on the other side . "

Mr. Ho Van Nhanh in Tra Hoa village, Thanh Bong commune said: “ Ha Doi suspension bridge was built a long time ago, now it has degraded, people are resettled on this side of the bridge but production and economy are on the other side of the bridge. Many times in the village, there are people who are sick and vehicles cannot enter, people have to carry people across the bridge, which is very difficult. I hope the government will pay attention to repairing Ha Doi suspension bridge soon so that people can travel safely . ”

Quang Ngai province currently has more than 300 suspension bridges for people, mainly in the western communes. Many bridges have been severely damaged, with collapsed piers, weak suspension cables, and unstable suspension wires. The Kon Vi Vang suspension bridge in Dak Koi commune, built by local people to cross the Dak Snghe River, has now seriously degraded. The bridge's surface is rotten, and every time someone crosses it, it shakes violently. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy, Secretary of the Dak Koi Commune Party Committee, despite knowing it is unsafe, people still cross it every day despite warnings from local authorities. " For spontaneous suspension bridges for people, before the rainy season, to ensure the safety of people and vehicles, the commune has a plan to request traffic to stop and widely notify the people, and so far people have complied ," said Mr. Thuy.

Due to the mountainous terrain and steep slopes, in addition to solidly built suspension bridges, in the mountainous communes of Quang Ngai, many households still make their own suspension bridges from bamboo and wood to cross small streams for production purposes. These bridges are potentially dangerous during the rainy and flood season. Currently, the Quang Ngai Department of Construction has coordinated with localities to inspect and repair damaged suspension bridges, and propose to build new ones that are no longer safe. Localities are also instructed to fence, put up signs prohibiting traffic, and liquidate suspension bridges that have stopped being used.