On September 28, the Quang Binh Department of Transport announced that it had restricted the vehicle load over the Thai River Bridge on Provincial Road 558B, Quang Trach District.

Thai River Bridge (in Quang Phu and Quang Kim communes) was built in 1996. The bridge is 180m long, with 6 spans, each span is arranged with 3 regular reinforced concrete beams, with a design load of H10-X60.

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Song Thai Bridge on Provincial Road 558B, Quang Trach District. Photo: Huy Hoang

After nearly 30 years of use, the bridge has now degraded and is quite seriously damaged. The concrete of the pier body has peeled off, especially at pier T4 and T5, the concrete layer has peeled off, exposing the rusted steel bars. Because the bridge is located in a salty area, the steel bars are corroding very quickly.

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The concrete layer of the Thai River bridge pier is peeling off. Photo: Huy Hoang

At the bridge abutment, the reinforced mortared boulders were severely eroded, all the mortar was washed away, leaving only the boulders. The bridge surface was also peeling and cracked, and the rubber expansion joints were damaged.

Although the management unit has increased regular repairs and maintenance, due to saltwater intrusion, the level of damage to the bridge's items shows signs of further development.

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Thai River Bridge has degraded and is quite seriously damaged. Photo: Huy Hoang

Speaking with VietNamNet, Mr. Chu Viet Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Kim commune, said that the Thai River bridge is located on the inter-commune road of Quang Phu, Quang Kim and Quang Hop.

“This bridge is very important. About 14,000 people in the two communes of Quang Kim and Quang Hop who want to go to Quang Phu commune, to National Highway 1A or to the district center must go over this bridge.

Recently, the Department of Transport has sent documents to districts and communes to limit load, and also made propaganda signs, not allowing vehicles with load capacity over 5 tons to pass through," Mr. Dung said.

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The expansion joint on the bridge deck is peeling off. Photo: Huy Hoang

It is known that, to prevent the case of collapse, causing accidents due to vehicles with loads exceeding the bridge's load capacity, the Department of Transport has announced that the total weight of vehicles allowed to pass the bridge must not exceed 5 tons, the distance between vehicles when passing the bridge must be 100m or more (only 1 vehicle on the bridge).

Authorities have installed a 2.5m height restriction frame at both ends of the bridge and signs according to current road signaling standards.

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Warning people and vehicles when crossing the bridge. Photo: Huy Hoang

Vehicles with a total weight greater than 5 tons and a height greater than 2.5m can move along other suitable traffic routes in the area, starting from 12:00 on September 27.