Proposal to build new Phong Chau bridge with public investment capital

This is a long-term solution to ensure traffic safety and meet transportation needs on National Highway 32C across the Thao River (Red River).

Phong Chau Bridge before the incident of 2 spans collapsing due to floods.

The Vietnam Road Administration has just sent an official dispatch requesting the Ministry of Transport to assign the task of preparing a report proposing investment policy for the Phong Chau Bridge Construction Project on National Highway 32C, Phu Tho Province.

According to the State management agency specializing in roads, Phong Chau bridge across Thao river (Red river) at Km18+300 on National Highway 32C, Phu Tho province was built, completed and put into operation in 1995.

The bridge is 375.36 m long; consists of 08 spans arranged according to the diagram (4x33+66+64+80+21) m; the 33m spans are prestressed reinforced concrete beams with T-shaped cross-section, the main spans are made of steel truss structure; the bridge piers are made of reinforced concrete.

On September 9, 2024, Phong Chau bridge collapsed, sweeping away pillar T7 and 2 main spans (spans 6 and 7 on the right bank of Thao river, in Tam Nong district, Phu Tho).

After the incident occurred, the Vietnam Road Administration issued Official Dispatch No. 14/CD-CVietnam Road Administration dated September 9, 2024 directing the Phu Tho Department of Transport and related units to urgently mobilize human resources and equipment to participate in troubleshooting and search and rescue.

Implementing the opinions of the Government leaders and the Ministry of Transport at the site inspection of Phong Chau bridge and the proposal of the People's Committee of Phu Tho province, in order to have a long-term solution to ensure traffic safety and meet the transportation needs on National Highway 32C across Thao River (Red River), the Vietnam Road Administration proposed that the Ministry of Transport consider and assign the Vietnam Road Administration the task of preparing a report proposing the investment policy for the new Phong Chau bridge on National Highway 32C, Phu Tho province using the State budget; implementation period 2024-2025.

Previously, in 2022, voters of Phu Tho province proposed that the Ministry of Transport invest in building a new bridge to replace Phong Chau bridge and Phu My bridge (in Tam Nong district and Cam Khe district).

However, due to limited resources, the Ministry of Transport has only acknowledged the above recommendation and continued to direct the Vietnam Road Administration (now the Vietnam Road Administration) to strengthen the maintenance and repair of Phong Chau Bridge and Tu My Bridge from road maintenance funds to ensure traffic safety for people and vehicles participating in traffic on the route.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/de-xuat-xay-dung-moi-cau-phong-chau-bang-nguon-von-dau-tu-cong-d224565.html