Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: The new Phong Chau Bridge is a bridge that heals wounds and kindles faith and happiness.

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the inauguration ceremony of the new Phong Chau Bridge - National Highway 32C. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Also attending were Minister of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang; Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh; Secretary of Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee Dang Xuan Phong; leaders of central ministries, branches and Phu Tho province.

The investment project to build the new Phong Chau bridge - National Highway 32C, Phu Tho province was invested under the Emergency Construction Order, after the collapse of the old Phong Chau bridge on September 9, 2024. The project has a total investment of 635,392 billion VND, from the central budget, with Thang Long Project Management Board as the investor. The contractor is Truong Son Construction Corporation. The new Phong Chau bridge started construction on December 21, 2024.

The new Phong Chau Bridge and approach road are approximately 652m long (the bridge is 383m long), 20.5m wide with 4 lanes for motor vehicles, located on National Highway 32C, crossing the Red River through Phu Tho province, with the starting point in Phung Nguyen commune and the ending point in Van Xuan commune. The project was invested to promptly handle the collapse of the old Phong Chau Bridge on National Highway 32C, ensuring urgency, quickly resolving traffic disruptions, overcoming the consequences of storms and floods; soon connecting the traffic network in the area, creating favorable conditions for people to travel, supporting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in the area.

Due to the urgent nature, the project is under the close direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and branches; the close coordination of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Committee of Phu Tho province and local authorities.

The investor, the supervision consultant and the contractor, Truong Son Construction Corporation, organized the construction with the spirit of "3 shifts, 4 teams", "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain, not losing to storms and winds", "eating and sleeping quickly", "not enough work during the day, taking advantage of the night", "only discussing work, not discussing back". Up to now, the project has been completed in 9 months, 3 months shorter than the contract. In particular, the total estimated cost of the bridge construction is about 438,796 billion VND, saving more than 196 billion VND compared to the initial total investment.

At the ceremony, the Prime Minister and delegates observed a moment of silence to commemorate the people who lost their lives due to the collapse of the old Phong Chau bridge exactly one year ago. The Prime Minister recalled that the collapse of the old Phong Chau bridge due to the historical Yagi impact had caused heavy losses in human lives and property; seriously affected the lives of people on both banks of the Red River; and the economy, trade, commerce and production of the region were greatly affected. Immediately after the incident, General Secretary To Lam inspected and directed the overcoming of the consequences; the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of National Defense and relevant ministries and branches closely directed and immediately began to overcome the incident. The Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee and local authorities closely coordinated to implement the construction and today inaugurated the new Phong Chau bridge.

Moved by the tears of faith, hope and pride of the people today, instead of the tears of pain exactly 1 year ago, the Prime Minister said that the new Phong Chau bridge is the bridge connecting the people with the Party and the State; connecting people with people; connecting the people with the heroic Vietnamese Army; healing wounds and rekindling faith and happiness; closely connecting ministries, branches, agencies, localities and the people.

The Prime Minister warmly commended and highly appreciated the sense of responsibility and prompt participation in the direction, management and implementation of the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction); the effective coordination and close support of the Ministry of National Defense, the Provincial Party Committee - People's Committee of Phu Tho province, relevant ministries and branches, design consultants and supervision consultants during the project implementation process. The Prime Minister acknowledged and commended the efforts of the officers and soldiers of the 249th Engineering Brigade - Engineering Corps who overcame all difficulties and hardships to deploy the pontoon bridge, ensuring traffic for the people throughout the past year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh especially commended and praised the officers and soldiers of Corps 12 - Truong Son Construction Corporation for upholding the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers and the heroic tradition of Truong Son soldiers, overcoming many difficulties and challenges, working day and night, so that today, Phong Chau Bridge was inaugurated as committed, in the joy and happiness of the masses; thanked the local people - those who accompanied, shared and encouraged the construction forces.

Highlighting the importance of the new Phong Chau bridge, the Prime Minister said that we have quickly overcome the consequences left by typhoon Yagi; connected traffic, connected inter-regional economy; ensured security and defense; ensured travel and people's lives; demonstrated the will and spirit of our army as "a fighting army, a working army, a production labor army", "completed every task, overcome every difficulty, defeated every enemy", "once in battle, victory".

In particular, the project has demonstrated and affirmed that "The Army and the People are one will; the Party's will is in line with the people's will" then nothing is impossible. The decision to assign the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of National Defense, and Phu Tho province to invest in the new Phong Chau bridge according to the Emergency Construction Order is a correct decision, in line with reality; there is close coordination, joint efforts, and consensus among ministries, branches, agencies, and local units, well performing the tasks assigned by the Party and the State. The project was deployed ahead of schedule, ensuring quality, safety, and saving time and money.

Issuing the order to inaugurate the new Phong Chau bridge exactly one year ago (according to the lunar calendar) when the old Phong Chau bridge collapsed, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, branches, agencies, units and Phu Tho province to urgently complete the remaining work; pay, settle and hand over the project in accordance with the law; organize the effective exploitation of the project, worthy of the trust of the Party, the State and the expectations and wishes of the people.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-cau-phong-chau-moi-la-nhip-cau-han-gan-vet-thuong-va-nhen-len-niem-tin-hanh-phuc-10388279.html