The Nam Dinh Provincial Department of Transport recently issued Document No. 2770/SGTVT-BQLBT, requesting the Ministry of Transport to declare an emergency situation due to natural disasters in the area of Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge at Km74+391 on National Highway 37B in Nam Dinh province, affected by Storm No. 3 and prolonged floods after the storm.
According to the Department, Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge ensures traffic on National Highway 37B across the Ninh Co River, connecting Nghia Hung and Truc Ninh districts in Nam Dinh province. However, the Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge was washed away by floods on the night of September 11 and remained unfixed as of September 20.
The Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge, with a width of 3.5m and a river crossing distance of 400m, operating 3 shifts per day, is the only pontoon bridge on the National Highways in Northern Vietnam and has been under the management of the Nam Dinh Department of Transport since 2015 as assigned by the Vietnam Road Administration (under the Ministry of Transport).
Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge across the Ninh Co River, connecting Nghia Hung and Truc Ninh districts, Nam Dinh province. Photo: NLD
Due to the impact of Storm No. 3, the water level in the Ninh Co River, where the Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge is located, rose rapidly above the alarm level 3, with strong currents carrying debris, trees, and other obstacles, affecting the structure and safety of the bridge.
On September 11, 2024, the Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge was damaged, with the connections between the pontoons and the Bailey bridge lost, and the anchor cables on the upstream side broken. The Bailey bridge on the Truc Ninh side was washed away by the flood, interrupting traffic on National Highway 37B at the Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge section.
The Nam Dinh Department of Transport promptly reported and proactively coordinated with relevant authorities to implement traffic diversion plans, both from a distance and internally, for vehicles in the affected area. They also organized the installation of signboards to guide, regulate, and inform about the road closure.
To ensure safe and smooth traffic on National Highway 37B and promptly address the storm and flood damage, the Department of Transport proposed that the Ministry of Transport declare an emergency situation due to natural disasters caused by Storm No. 3 and subsequent floods in Nam Dinh province as a basis for further handling steps.
Current status of the broken Ninh Cuong pontoon bridge over the Ninh Co River. Photo: Nam Dinh Newspaper & Transport Magazine
The following steps include: salvaging the Bailey bridge on the Truc Ninh side, recovering the anchor blocks washed away by the flood; repairing damaged pontoons, pontons, and Bailey bridges, including one Bailey bridge that fell into the water and has yet to be assessed for damage due to the still-high water level.
The Nam Dinh Department of Transport has reported to the Vietnam Road Administration, requesting the emergency deployment of one Bailey bridge from the reserve stock at the Road Management Area I, the operation of two canoes to ensure traffic and fix the issue, the rental of an excavator to clean up debris, the replacement and addition of lost anchor blocks, the replacement of anchor cables, wires, and the electrical system, as well as the repair of other damages to ensure the safe operation of the pontoon bridge. The estimated cost for these repairs is approximately 4 billion VND.
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