Old Cau Lau Bridge is closed to traffic pending repairs - Photo: BD
Grilled veal shops in Cau Mong open for customers
On the afternoon of April 6, the old National Highway 1 leading through Dien Phuong commune, Dien Ban town, running parallel to the new bridge that is open to traffic on National Highway 1 connecting Duy Xuyen with Dien Ban (Quang Nam province) was deserted.
Rows of restaurants are built close together, many of them 3-4 stories high, once bustling with customers coming and going, cars lining up to take customers to eat Quang specialties, but now they are deserted.
The reason is that the old Cau Lau bridge - the vital bridge that once carried passengers from the North to the South, and also the bridge that has entered the subconscious memories of Quang Nam people connecting the two banks of the "silk river" Thu Bon - has been temporarily "resting" for the past six months to await repairs.
Cau Lau Bridge was built in 1965. In October 2023, the bridge was temporarily closed to traffic pending the start of the overhaul and repair project.
The old Cau Lau Bridge is parallel to the current new bridge - Photo: BD
The new bridge is more modern and solid than the old residential area that is currently carrying the load of the old Cau Lau bridge. However, this bridge is completely separated from the famous craft villages of Quang Nam, including Cau Mong grilled veal street, Phu Chiem Quang noodle village...
The ban on traffic has caused business on the old roads through Dien Phuong commune to be sluggish.
The culinary street to enjoy grilled veal at Cau Mong is located right at the foot of Cau Lau bridge in the north direction, from the center of Dien Ban town to the bank of Thu Bon river, which has been deserted for the past half year and it is unknown when it will be happy again.
Find distribution channels to keep the Cau Mong roasted veal brand warm
Reflecting to Tuoi Tre Online , many readers in Quang Nam said that since Cau Lau bridge was blocked with barriers to prohibit vehicles from passing through, the number of visitors to the Cau Mong grilled beef food street at the foot of Cau Lau bridge has decreased by an estimated 80%.
Shops have to cut down on labor and find ways to sell outside because the number of visitors from long-distance buses on the highway has been cut off.
The owner of Bay Lep grilled beef restaurant, Ms. Do Thi Thai, said that the restaurant's business has been very difficult for the past six months.
Regular customers no longer visit the shop but instead travel along the new highway. Occasionally, when a bus company places an order, she prepares the food in advance and runs to the new bridge to pick up the customer. But this is only a temporary solution.
The once bustling Cau Mong grilled veal food street is now deserted - Photo: BD
Next, the owner of the grilled beef restaurant Muoi also talked about the difficult situation due to the old bridge being closed for repairs. If this situation continues, it will cause a very famous culinary street in Quang Nam to fade away.
Many grilled beef stall owners at the foot of Cau Lau bridge said that recently, instead of waiting for old customers, the stalls have started setting up Facebook channels and livestreaming to close orders for customers.
Although this is quite difficult for people who are not used to doing business online, it costs a lot of money and requires many changes, but in any case, there is still a way to preserve the famous culinary brand of Quang Nam.
According to the Department of Transport of Quang Nam province, the Cau Lau bridge repair project has been agreed upon, and units have banned vehicles from the end of 2023 to prepare procedures.
It is expected that the bridge repair will be completed in 2024, including the upper and lower sections.
The legendary bridge connecting the Thu Bon silk river
Cau Lau Bridge is not only a famous place on the map in the North-South journey, but this is also a bridge associated with historical sites, craft villages and tourist centers of Quang Nam such as Hoi An, My Son, Duy Xuyen silk village, Thanh Chiem citadel...
Instead of demolishing it, the bridge restoration is expected to preserve the image and symbol of a bridge that has entered the subconscious and poetry of Quang Nam people; creating an architectural highlight connecting the poetic Thu Bon River.
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