Under some adjustments for a long time, the construction of Xom Bong Bridge is scheduled in the first quarter of 2021...
The Prime Minister approved a list of 50 bridges with priority for construction in 2015. They included Xom Bong Bridge, Nha Trang City. However, under some adjustments made over a long time, the construction of Xom Bong Bridge is scheduled in the first quarter of 2021.
Xom Bong Bridge is situated on an important traffic joint, connecting Nha Trang City to the National Road 1C. The bridge has become decrepit after over 50 years of use and already undergone some repairs. The locality has suggested the Ministry of Construction for the construction since 2013.
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A list of 50 bridges given priority for construction in 2015 included Xom Bong Bridge in Nha Trang City. The Prime Minister then decided to adjust the construction investment policy and approved a compensation and resettlement policy framework for the project in 2016. The funding for the project was from preferential loans provided by the South Korean Government. The Ministry of Construction approved the investment project in 2017. However, the project remained undeveloped for a long time and thus further adjustment was made to the project in 2019.
Xom Bong Bridge with 15 spans, 309m in length, was put into use since 1969. Its 10th span was damaged by American bombing in April 1975. Though already repaired, the bridge is now in a run-down condition. Therefore, vehicles’ loading capacity is required to cut down to assure safety.
In 1985, the Ministry of Construction provided funding and materials for the repair. Khanh Hoa People’s Committee assigned the Department of Construction to design and make repairs. The bridge was opened to traffic on January 25, 1986.
Reportedly, the Project Management Board 2 is assigned by the Ministry of Construction to develop Xom Bong Bridge project. In 2016, the board submitted the investment plan for the bridge construction. Accordingly, the new bridge is nearly 330m long and 19m wide with 4 lanes to match the National Road 1C design. The new one is 6m downstream from the old location. The estimated cost for the bridge construction and site clearance is VND250 billion.
Khanh Hoa Department of Transportation has provided consultancy for Khanh Hoa People’s Committee many times to make suggestions on the bridge construction submitted to the Ministry of Construction to facilitate travel and assure traffic safety.
Although located on the route of the National Road 1C, the existing bridge is still required for vehicles’ restricted loading capacities. In 2019, the bridge was repaired to improve safety. The Ministry of Transportation has recently sent a document to the locality and the project management board to request the implementation of investment process for the bridge construction which is due to begin in the 1st quarter of 2021, according to Nguyen Van Dan, Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Transportation.
In order to meet the project schedule, the Ministry of Transportation has requested local authorities to direct concerned agencies and departments to implement the site clearance work. The Ministry suggested that the Provincial People's Committee would urgently assign tasks to the organization in charge of the site clearance work or establish a local site clearance council (for contact) to coordinate with the Project Management Board 2 to undertake site clearance and compensation; timely notify the site clearance plan and schedule to affected people; coordinate with project management board and consulting units in the process of construction staking. The Ministry of Transportation has also directed the Project Management Board 2 to urgently mark construction locations and provide sufficient dossiers and landmarks related to site clearance for project investors; actively coordinate with localities to solve problems related to site clearance and remove shortcomings during the construction.
Thanh Nam
Translated by N.T
