Deteriorating suspension bridges are putting locals living in Dong Giang mountainous district of Quang Nam Province at risk on a daily basis.
The suspension bridges here are damaged to a serious degree. One wrong step is all it takes for someone to fall off the bridge, at a height of over 10 metres, down into the river full of rocks below it.
Most bridges in this area are in the same condition. Bridge plankings are rotting and have been causing people to carefully watch their every step and require them to find pieces that are still intact before they dare to make a move on the bridge. Some bridges are so damaged that only the bravest dare to cross.
This situation has been known for a long time, but little repair has been done from relevant authorities. People living in Phu Son Hamlet, Ba Commune, now have no way of crossing their river since the bridge lost all of its plank flooring and only its exposed rusty steel beams can be seen. The suspension bridge located in K8 Hamlet, Song Kon Commune, is in a similar state as it has lost a large amount of its wooden plank floorings and the wooden handrails are breaking down due to decay. The bridge's suspension cable is completely leaned to one side. "One misstep and you'll fall," a local warned.
Most of the suspension bridges in Dong Giang were built under the sponsorship of the World Vision organisation, the Rural Infrastructure Project (CBRIP) and investment from Program No.135 of the State government. These bridges have been put into use for less than 10 years, but are now already heavily damaged.
Below are a few pictures depicting the dangerous condition of the bridges in Dong Giang:
Bridge's handrail is broken, and the plank floorings have deteriorated.
