Despite tens of billions of VND having been poured into repairing Thang Long Bridge since 2009, it’s road surface has again shown signs of wear.
Thang Long Bridge continues to be repaired
At a meeting to review Thang Long Bridge repair phase 2 in early May, the National Directorate for Roads requested the management to quickly complete the check and take over procedure by May 19.
Repair work to the Thang Long Bridge is scheduled to take place from May 24 with 1,800 square metres set for repair at a cost of VND650-750 million (USD31,000-36,000).
By the end of 2009, tens of billion of VND had been spent to renew the asphalt road surfaces. However, after several months, long cracks appeared again on the surface.
The damaged areas are scattered along the bridge surface and were brought to the attention of the bridge management by the Institute of Transport Science and Technology at the end of 2011. 50% of the cracks are in identical places to previous faults.
Answering questions about the handover of Thang Long Bridge following the troubled repairs, Nguyen Xuan Tan, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Transport said he hadn't received any such request and the department would not accept the bridge back without the repairs being satisfactorily concluded.
"The bridge is being repaired under the direction of the Ministry of Transport. It's still being fixed, what's the point of us taking back the management of the bridge now?" he said.