At 10:30 a.m. on September 29, the temporary replacement pontoon bridge for Phong Chau Bridge was successfully installed. From tomorrow (September 30), people can travel across the pontoon bridge from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

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The pontoon bridge was installed by the engineering force about 300m from the collapsed Phong Chau bridge. Photo: Duc Hoang

Phu Tho Provincial Police issued a notice regarding the movement across the pontoon bridge. Specifically, rudimentary vehicles, motorbikes, scooters, and three-wheeled motorcycles are allowed to travel in both directions, at a speed not exceeding 5km/h.

Only cars and pickup trucks are allowed to travel in one direction when crossing the bridge, each direction takes 10 minutes, the distance between vehicles on the bridge is not less than 30m, speed is not more than 10km/h.

At 9:00 a.m. today, forces from Brigade 249, Engineering Corps installed a pontoon bridge connecting Lam Thao and Tam Nong districts.

Brigade 249 is the leading unit, coordinating with other forces to deploy and connect the PMP 60T pontoon bridge to ensure traffic for people on both sides of the Thao River. The bridge is located downstream, about 300m from the collapsed Phong Chau bridge.

After about 90 minutes, the forces deployed the joints, assembled the ferries and fixed them to form a complete pontoon bridge.

Upon completion of the bridge construction, the unit will organize technical traffic opening, inspection, technical adjustment, and completion of all stages so that on September 30, the bridge will be open to traffic to serve the immediate travel needs of the people.

Previously, on the morning of September 9, the Phong Chau bridge collapsed (pillar T7 and spans N6 and N7 collapsed), causing many vehicles moving on the bridge to fall into the river and 8 people to go missing. In the past few days, authorities have found 4 bodies and are trying to find the remaining missing victims.

Engineers install pontoon bridge 20 days after Phong Chau bridge collapsed

Engineers install pontoon bridge 20 days after Phong Chau bridge collapsed

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 249, Engineering Corps deployed forces and vehicles to install a pontoon bridge across the Red River after the collapse of Phong Chau bridge (Phu Tho province).
Current status of the remaining part of Phong Chau bridge at risk of collapse

Current status of the remaining part of Phong Chau bridge at risk of collapse

After the Phong Chau bridge collapse (Phu Tho province), authorities determined that the remaining steel span on the Lam Thao district side was also at risk of collapsing.
Phu Tho proposes sending special 'frogmen' to search for victims of Phong Chau bridge collapse

Phu Tho proposes sending special 'frogmen' to search for victims of Phong Chau bridge collapse

The Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Phu Tho province has just sent a document requesting the Ministry of National Defense to help increase specialized forces (frogmen) to help the province search for missing people in the Phong Chau bridge collapse.