On the morning of October 18, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a meeting to listen to a report on the implementation of the new Phong Chau bridge construction project in Phu Tho province.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the investment in rebuilding Phong Chau Bridge is an urgent task that must be carried out promptly. Therefore, it is necessary to apply a special mechanism to select investors to build Phong Chau Bridge as quickly as possible, ensuring safety and quality.

At the meeting, leaders of ministries, branches and Phu Tho province analyzed and discussed the plan to assign Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee or the Ministry of Transport as the investment management agency, and at the same time determined the project implementation progress milestones to complete in 2025.

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Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. Photo: Minh Khoi

Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee Bui Van Quang affirmed that the greatest wish of the locality is to have a new Phong Chau bridge as soon as possible. The province has studied investment options, and realized that with the set progress milestone, having the Ministry of Transport as the investor would be the most favorable.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, this is an emergency project, so when the Ministry of Transport is the investor, it will be very convenient to implement the project such as not having to approve the investment policy, and being allowed to appoint contractors for survey, design, and construction.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance also agreed to use the central budget reserve fund in 2024, disbursing according to the project's progress.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam said that if the procedures for investment and construction of works in emergency situations are followed, it is expected that in December 2024, the procedures for approving the investment project, appointing contractors, and starting the project will be completed, including completing the survey, design, and construction of bridge piers before April 2025.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Transport to implement the direction of General Secretary, President To Lam, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The repair of the Phong Chau bridge incident requires the utmost effort and determination, and must be carried out promptly and urgently.

To implement the project to build the new Phong Chau bridge, the ministries and branches have agreed to let the Ministry of Transport be the investment management agency. In addition, the ministries and branches have also agreed to apply a special mechanism in selecting contractors and starting the project in December 2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Phu Tho province to direct contractors to complete the bridge foundation construction before April 2025, before the storm season begins, and then carry out other construction items to complete the entire project in 2025.

Deputy Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police Department talks about Phong Chau bridge collapse incident

Deputy Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police Department talks about Phong Chau bridge collapse incident

Colonel Nguyen Huu Phuoc, Deputy Director of Phu Tho Provincial Police, said that immediately after the Phong Chau bridge collapse occurred, provincial police leaders went directly to the scene to direct urgent measures to help overcome the situation and investigate the cause of the incident.
Image of engineers using a ferry to transport people after the Phong Chau bridge collapsed

Image of engineers using a ferry to transport people after the Phong Chau bridge collapsed

The army's specialized ferry to transport vehicles and people across the Red River has been put into operation by Brigade 249, Engineering Corps.
The Department of Roads requested the Phu Tho Department of Transport to soon have a plan to dismantle Phong Chau bridge.

The Department of Roads requested the Phu Tho Department of Transport to soon have a plan to dismantle Phong Chau bridge.

Vietnam Road Administration requested Phu Tho Department of Transport to soon have a plan to dismantle Phong Chau bridge, ensuring safety for people and vehicles when dismantling steel spans.