Two-lane pontoon reduces traffic load on Duong Bridge

A pontoon bridge installed over the Duong River to reduce the load on the Duong Bridge which is under repair was officially put into operation yesterday.

The two-lane pontoon bridge, which is 248m long and 8m wide, connects Yen Vien in Gia Lam District and Giang Bien Ward in Long Bien District.

The bridge, installed by the High Command of Engineers Corps, is capable of bearing vehicles of up to 60 tonnes. However, only vehicles of less than 16 tonnes are allowed to cross the bridge to lengthen its life-span, according to Tran Hong Minh, head of Brigade H 249 of the high command.

Installed 900m from the Duong Bridge, the pontoon would be open for vehicles from 5am to 8pm and then be closed to clear the way for water-based traffic to operate, Minh said.

The pontoon bridge will remain in operation for more than three months until the repairs to Duong Bridge are finished.

This is the fourth time since 2003 that Ha Noi has installed pontoon bridges to ensure smooth traffic flow between the capital city and northern provinces during peak hours.

Ten minutes after the bridge was put into operation, a bus became stuck causing a 20-minute traffic jam.

On the same day, work invested in by the Viet Nam Railway Corporation began on the Duong Bridge.

The repairs will cost an estimated VND12 billion (US$636,000). — VNS

Tags: Vietnam Infrastructure