Challenges at Móng Sến Bridge: A Case Study on Vietnam’s Infrastructure
Móng Sến Bridge, the tallest pier bridge in Vietnam, has been temporarily closed due to severe landslides.
For over two months now, the Móng Sến Bridge, operated by Laos Cai – Sa Pa BOT Joint Stock Company, has been inactive due to successive and severe landslides. With a height of 83 meters and a total investment of over VND 1,400 billion, Móng Sến Bridge is strategically located on the route from Noi Bai – Lao Cai Highway to Sa Pa and was inaugurated in April 2024.
Hailed as the “golden gate” to Sa Pa, the bridge was expected to reduce travel time and ease traffic congestion on National Highway 4D. The route shortens the distance by approximately 7 kilometers, cutting down the journey from Lao Cai City to Sa Pa to just 20 minutes.
The bridge has been temporarily closed while authorities work on clearing the landslides and ensuring the safety of travelers.
However, after more than a year of operation, the bridge has been temporarily closed due to safety concerns. As a result, vehicles traveling to and from Sa Pa are currently using the old, winding, and potentially dangerous three-story slope route.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Luu, Deputy General Director of Laos Cai – Sa Pa BOT Joint Stock Company, expressed the company’s eagerness to remove the mud and resume the bridge’s operations. However, the local authorities of Lao Cai province are currently instructing the People’s Committee of Ta Phin commune to persuade the people to clear the way, which has caused a delay in implementation.
Regarding financial responsibility for the remediation, the representative of the BOT Joint Stock Company affirmed that the landslide area is outside the scope of the investment project, so the company is not responsible for the cost.
Laos Cai – Sa Pa BOT Joint Stock Company, established on April 14, 2016, and headquartered in Lao Cai city, is the investor and inviting bidder for the project to build the road connecting Noi Bai – Lao Cai Highway to Sa Pa in the form of BOT, with various packages such as construction and supervision of the slope roof.
The total investment of the project is VND 1,382 billion, in which the investor mobilizes VND 803 billion, and the remaining VND 579 billion is from the State budget (including VND 500 billion from the central budget and VND 79 billion from the local budget). The company started operating the entire route from September 22, 2023, and officially collected fees from February 8, 2024, with a fee level from VND 24,000 – VND 117,000/ticket, depending on the type of vehicle.
The company temporarily stopped collecting fees in early October 2024 due to landslides, then overcame and resumed collecting fees from October 25, 2024.
Why the Tallest Viaduct in Vietnam Has Been Paralysed for Months?
After almost a year of operation, the Mong Sen Bridge, a majestic viaduct with the tallest bridge piers in Vietnam (soaring at 83m), has been closed for the past two months. This engineering marvel, situated on the route from the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway to Sa Pa, now lies dormant.
A Premier’s Mission: Reaching Out to the People of Dien Bien, Offering Support and Guidance in the Wake of Devastating Natural Disasters.
On August 3rd, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation visited the site of the recent devastating floods and landslides in Na Son, Tìa Dình, and Xa Dung communes, Dien Bien province, to offer encouragement and support to the affected communities.
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The Devastating Floods and Landslides: Thanh Hoa Declares a State of Emergency in Multiple Areas
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