Nguyen Ngoc Long, deputy head of Vietnam Bridge and Road Association, has demanded an inspection on an elevated road project in Hanoi after it was revealed that the road is supported by a layer of polystyrene.
A layer of polystyrene found beneath the road
According to Long, the construction unit of the project had taken a dangerous shortcut by placing polystyrene between the layers of sand and concrete. He proposed to thoroughly inspect the project before putting into use.
"Only a recheck can give us exact assessment about this project. Investors or consultants or supervisors can't cover for the contractors. If they were involved in doing this, they'll have to do it again," he said.
Le Thanh Song, deputy director of the project's investor Cienco 5, said the project had basically been completed in 2012 but there was no lighting system yet so they placed the layer in order to ease the traffic on Highway 21B during the Tet Holiday last year, when they had to open the road. The construction unit drilled through the polystyrene and installed temporary lampposts.
When being asked about the cracks, subsidence and obvious deterioration on road, Song said the cracks were at expansion joints that haven't been completed. "The whole elevated road hasn't been completed nor was it transferred to the managers. Many parts are still under construction," Song said.
The elevated road is part of the USD273m Hanoi southern road project that will connect Ha Dong District with other southern districts. It is invested by Cienco 5 to ease traffic on highways 21B and 1A. The project was started in 2008 but still hasn't been completed.