The construction of VND5,700 billion ($250. 7 million ) which connects Dong Thap Province and Can Tho City across the Hau River has to be delayed due to the crack.
Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Nhat November 17 convened a meeting with the participation of many sides to correct the bridge because it is going to be completed and opened to the traffic.
The Vam Cong Bridge project is funded by the official development assistance (ODA) from the South Korean government and counterpart fund from Vietnam. It is examined by South Korean Joint Venture of Dasan - Kunhwa – Pyunghwa, and the contractor is Joint Venture of GS Engineering & Construction Corp and Hanshin.
The final segment of the bridge completed on September 29; at present, workers are finishing painting roads and installing traffic signs, lights
During performing the construction of the bridge, the crack was discovered on November 14. Right after informed the incident, the transport ministry then asked the Cuu Long Corporation for Investment, Development and Project Management of Infrastructure (Cuu Long CIPM), the developer of the bridge, to cease the construction to ensure safety for workers as well as its structure.
The Ministry sent a team of officers from the Transport Engineering Construction and Quality Management Bureau, the Department of Science and Technology, and local pundits to examine the work. Results showed that there were no other cracks on the bridge except those found on abutment No.P29.
In the meeting, Deputy Minister Nhat said the Ministry wanted a thorough assessment from design to construction to find out the cause and adopt measures to ensure the bridge quality. It has sought help from South Korean experts to examine the error at the construction of Vam Cong bridge as well as proposed remedies.
