On May 30, Road Management Area IV (Vietnam Road Administration) continued to send a document to the Department of Transport and the Traffic Police Department of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces regarding the adjustment of the load restriction signs on Mang Thit Bridge, National Highway 53, after the incident of a rock ship colliding with the bridge and causing damage.

Road Management Area IV said that after the incident of the tugboat with license plate SG-7658 pushing the deck carrying about 960 tons of rocks into Mang Thit bridge (Mang Thit district, Vinh Long), on May 27, this unit sent a document to the Department of Transport of Tra Vinh and Vinh Long provinces about the traffic diversion plan and placing signs to limit the load on the bridge to ensure safety.

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In the latest development, authorities have banned vehicles with a total load of over 10 tons and passenger vehicles with over 30 seats from crossing Mang Thit Bridge. Photo: HT

In addition, Road Management Area IV also issued a document assigning PRECON Company Limited to assess the operating load of Mang Thit Bridge.

After receiving the company's report on the calculation and assessment of the operating load of Mang Thit bridge, during the repair period and re-evaluation of the quality of the project, Road Management Area IV decided to adjust the load limit across Mang Thit bridge.

Accordingly, vehicles with a total load of over 10 tons and passenger vehicles with over 30 seats are prohibited from crossing the bridge. The minimum distance between two adjacent vehicles along the bridge is 35m.

Road Management Area IV requests relevant units to urgently adjust the placement of the bridge load restriction signs as above; adjust the contents of the notices installed on the route accordingly. Completion time is before 3:00 p.m. on May 30.

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Location where the train collided with Mang Thit bridge. Photo: HT

As reported by VietNamNet , at around 5:00 p.m. on May 27, a tugboat with license plate 7658 was pushing a deck carrying about 960 tons of stone, controlled by captain D.TD (48 years old), on the Mang Thit River (also known as Mang Thit) from Mang Thit to Tam Binh district.

At that time, it was raining heavily, the ship's stone deck collided with the old Mang Thit bridge's support pillar and was punctured. Water flooded in, causing the ship to tilt and capsize, colliding with cross beams number 19, 20, 21 (new Mang Thit bridge).

There were no casualties. However, the cross beam No. 20 of Mang Thit bridge was severely damaged, deformed and detached from the left connection with the longitudinal beam on the edge, rotating 30 degrees. The 4 bolts of the connection to the right edge beam on the girder on the 21st girder were loose and slightly deformed. The concrete of the wheel guardrail at the collision site was broken.

By 10pm, the authorities had taken over the case. After the incident, the authorities agreed on a plan to regulate traffic across Mang Thit Bridge, banning trucks over 2.5 tons and passenger vans over 16 seats from crossing the bridge.

However, up to now, the authorities have changed the above plan.

A ship carrying 960 tons of rock severely damaged the girder of Mang Thit Bridge in Vinh Long, forcing authorities to ban trucks over 2.5 tons and passenger cars over 16 seats from crossing the bridge.