The new Phong Chau Bridge project, which connects the two banks of the Red River, was invested in as an emergency project following the collapse of the old bridge on September 9, 2024.
A “30-Day Campaign” on the Scorching Battlefield
In the final days of August, on the vast construction site of the new Phong Chau Bridge (Phu Tho province), hundreds of officers, soldiers, and engineers from the Truong Son Corps, along with workers from the Thang Long Project Management Unit, worked tirelessly, day and night. From the early morning hours until late at night, the sounds of welding machines, concrete mixers, and shift reminders from the loudspeakers filled the air. The atmosphere on the construction site resembled a “campaign,” true to the spirit of their slogan: “30 days and nights of determination and victory” (August 10 – September 10, 2025).
The bridge has a total length of 653 meters, a width of 20.5 meters, and consists of four lanes for motor vehicles. It utilizes reinforced concrete beams and prestressed concrete.
Senior Captain Tran Dang Tuan, the project commander, shared: “After nearly eight months of construction, we have exceeded the plan by almost two months. The bridge is expected to be joined on August 27 and will be put into use in early October. This is an outstanding achievement by all the forces involved, especially considering the complex geological conditions and the strong and constantly changing currents of the Red River.”
The total investment for the Phong Chau Bridge project is over VND 635 billion from the central budget reserve.
Construction of the new Phong Chau Bridge began on December 21, 2024, and officially entered the construction phase in February 2025. The project was identified as an emergency by the Prime Minister following the collapse of the old Phong Chau Bridge in September 2024, which paralyzed the vital transport link between the two banks. From the outset, the Truong Son Construction Corporation mobilized its maximum human resources and equipment, working in “3 shifts and 4 teams” around the clock, even during holidays.
Despite the harsh weather conditions with constant rain and shine, the construction site buzzed with nonstop activity day and night.
Each cantilever beam segment was cast in just 5-5.5 days instead of the usual 7 days. Four construction teams worked simultaneously, and the combination of military discipline and civil engineering expertise resulted in a “breakneck” pace. By August 22, the project had completed over 80% of the work, with the main items such as the substructure, span structure, and beam system basically finished.
Anticipating the Day of Joining the Spans
On the construction site, Ms. Nguyen Thi Man (40 years old), a worker from the Truong Son 9 Management Unit, skillfully worked while sharing: “My husband and I have been working here since the project started. There were days when we worked all night, regardless of the rain or shine. But thinking about the day when the bridge will be completed, reconnecting the two banks of the Red River, everyone feels happy and fulfilled.”
The local people eagerly await the completion of the bridge.
It’s not just the direct laborers who are eagerly awaiting the completion of the bridge; thousands of households in Van Xuan and Phung Nguyen communes and the entire midland area of Phu Tho province are also looking forward to it. Since the collapse of the old bridge, people have had to take a long detour of dozens of kilometers or use a temporary ferry. The transportation of agricultural produce and building materials has been disrupted, and daily life has been turned upside down. Mr. Nguyen Van Dinh, a farmer in Phung Nguyen commune, shared: “Sometimes, vehicles carrying agricultural produce to the market on the other side of the river are delayed by up to an hour. The people are looking forward to the bridge being joined so that they can travel safely and conveniently.”
Workers performing welding before pouring the bridgehead beam.
The new Phong Chau Bridge project is designed with a length of 653 meters, a width of 20.5 meters, and four lanes for motor vehicles. It utilizes prestressed reinforced concrete beams and has a total investment of over VND 635 billion from the central budget reserve. This bridge is not just a vital transport link connecting the provincial center with the midland areas; it also symbolizes the restoration of trust and the revival of the spirit of resilience after a natural disaster.
Hundreds of officers, soldiers, and workers toil day and night to complete the bridge for the benefit of the local people.
With the joining of the spans on August 27 and the inauguration in early October, the Phong Chau Bridge will become a new symbol of the “breakneck” spirit in construction, fostering development and connectivity in the region.
Expected completion by the end of September and put into use in early October.
For nearly 300 days, on the banks of the Red River in Phu Tho, there were “sleepless” days and nights for hundreds of officers, soldiers, and workers. This bridge is not just about beams, pillars, concrete, and steel; it represents the will and faith of the people on both banks, the spirit of discipline and unity, and the aspiration for revival. When the spans are joined, it will not only connect the two banks of the Red River but also link the development aspirations of the midland region in a new phase.
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