The Ministry of Transport has invited Russian experts to help repair Thang Long Bridge after various attempts by local workers failed.

There are many cracks on the surface of Thang Long Bridge

According to a recent meeting held by the ministry on the bridge repair, Russian experts and the company who built the bridge will arrive from September 17-21 to survey the problems.

Speaking at the meeting, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The noted that a local team should be carefully prepared to work with the Russian experts on the project. 

"Thang Long Bridge is a vital transport infrastructure for Hanoi," The stressed. "It is also a symbol of the friendship between Russia and Vietnam. It is over 30 years old now and needs major restoration."

The minister said that the bridge opened in 1985 after an 11-year construction process with Russian assistance. It crosses the Red River to connect Noi Bai Airport with Hanoi centre and has undergone several major maintenance projects since 2009.

According to the Directorate for Roads under the ministry, after years in use, the bridge’s stone mastic asphalt was damaged, sliding and cracking, which resulted in the broken surfaces, threatening road safety.

The asphalt concrete was found not to stick to the concrete below, especially during harsh weather conditions like serious heat waves or prolonged rains, the directorate said.

In 2009, Hanoi authorities spent roughly VND100 billion (USD4.6 million) on resurfacing the bridge but the new surface didn't last long. 

Another repair was carried out between 2012-2013 using American technologies but many parts were damaged within the guarantee period.

Another maintenance cost over VND1 billion was done in 2016, and last year about VND1.4 billion was spent on fixing the bridge surface, yet the situation didn't improve.

Minister The stressed that with the help from Russian experts this time, the results should last at least 10 years. 

"We have many professors and PhDs working at different institutes and departments and we should feel publically embarrassed if we can’t fix the bridge surface properly," the minister stressed.

Dtinews