Phu Tho opens pontoon bridge after tragic collapse

The Phong Chau pontoon bridge, connecting the two banks of the Red River in Tam Nong and Lam Thao districts of northern Phu Tho province, was officially opened to traffic on September 30.

The construction of the pontoon bridge has been undertaken by more than 200 officers and soldiers from Regiment 249 of the Combat Engineer Arm (the Vietnam People's Army) and completed on September 29.

The Phong Chau pontoon bridge temporately replaces the iron bridge of the same name, which was collapsed on September 9 due to rising water levels in the Red River resulting from super typhoon Yagi and its subsequent heavy rains. Eight people were deemed missing as the result of the bridge collapse. Four bodies have been found so far.

According to the authorities, the pontoon bridge is open for traffic daily from 6 am to 10 pm.

Non-motorized vehicles, motorcycles, and three-wheeled motorcycles are permitted to travel in both directions at a speed not exceeding 5 km/h. For cars, only passenger cars and pickup trucks (2-4 seats) are allowed to travel one-way across the bridge, maintaining a distance of at least 30 m between vehicles and a speed not exceeding 10 km/h.

Additionally, the Phu Tho Department of Transport has proposed constructing a new Phong Chau Bridge at the site of the collapsed bridge.

The total length of the project is expected to be about 1 km, with the new Phong Chau Bridge being 400 m long and the approach road connecting to the inter-regional traffic route being 600 m long.