Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has issued an urgent directive to enhance quality assurance, traffic safety, labor safety, and environmental sanitation during the construction process of transportation infrastructure.
According to the Minister, there have been limitations and shortcomings in ensuring construction quality, labor safety, traffic safety, and environmental sanitation in some projects. Notable incidents include the collapse of a beam at Dai Ninh Bridge in Lam Dong Province, the collapse of Son Lang suspension bridge in Binh Phuoc Province, the collapse of Binh Phong Thanh suspension bridge in Long An Province, and the recent subsidence at Cai Doi Vam Bridge in Ca Mau Province, and the adverse weather conditions during the construction of the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway.
The main causes are attributed to some investors, project management boards, design consultants, supervisors, and contractors who have not paid adequate attention to quality management, labor safety, traffic safety, and environmental sanitation.
The scene of the subsidence at the Hoa Binh Bridge in Chau Thanh district, Tay Ninh province. Source: Construction Newspaper
In light of these issues, Minister Tran Hong Minh has instructed the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct their Departments of Construction and project investors or management boards to enhance the quality of survey and design tasks, ensuring comprehensive data on topography, geology, hydrology, material sources, and waste disposal, especially in areas with weak soil foundations and complex geological conditions.
The Ministry of Construction strictly prohibits collusion and falsification of documents and procedures, manipulation of work results and quantity inflation, abuse of power for personal gain, and imposition of material sources, suppliers, contractors, or subcontractors on projects.
Strict monitoring of the quality and origin of materials, equipment, and supplies is to be enforced.
Regarding the subsidence at the Hoa Binh Bridge in Tay Ninh province, the Minister has requested the provincial People’s Committee to direct the Department of Construction and relevant units to immediately ensure traffic diversion and safety for people and vehicles.
Urgent measures are to be taken to identify the cause, implement timely solutions, ensure project quality, and report the results to the competent authorities as regulated.
The Minister of Construction has ordered an urgent investigation into the cause of the subsidence at Hoa Binh Bridge. Source: T.H.
Tien Phong reported that at 4:00 am on the same day, a section of the road leading to the Hoa Binh Bridge subsided, creating a hole 35 meters long and 3 meters wide. A car carrying four people and two motorbikes, each with one rider, fell into the hole. All six victims were taken to Tay Ninh General Hospital.
According to sources, the Hoa Binh Bridge, spanning the Soc Hoa Hoi canal and connecting Hoa Thanh and Hoa Hoi communes, is designed to be 450 meters long and 12 meters wide, with a reinforced concrete structure. The project, with a total investment of over VND 37 billion from the provincial and district budgets, is managed by the Project Management Board of Chau Thanh district.
Although the bridge was scheduled for completion in June, the construction was accelerated, and it was opened to traffic on April 22, about one and a half months ahead of schedule.
Request to Halt Operations on Vulnerable Bridges Amid High Water Levels
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