The Rach Tom bridge in Hiep Phuoc commune (formerly Nha Be district) was built before 1975 and has deteriorated after years of use. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Investment and Construction of Traffic Works (the investor), the new bridge will be built with a total investment of nearly 500 billion VND. Construction will begin on 10/7 and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The bridge project is part of Ho Chi Minh City’s plan to replace 4 iron bridges on Le Van Luong Street: Rach Dia, Long Kieng, Rach Tom, and Rach Doi. These bridges are over 50 years old, severely deteriorated, and unsafe. The Long Kieng and Rach Dia bridges were rebuilt and opened in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The Rach Tom bridge spans the canal of the same name and is made of steel. It's a key traffic artery on Le Van Luong Street, connecting the southern area of Ho Chi Minh City with the new Tay Ninh province (formerly Long An). Without this bridge, residents would have to take a detour of about 10 km.

The Rach Tom bridge is only about 4 meters wide, so motorcycles and cars have to take turns crossing to avoid collisions. Personnel are stationed at both ends of the bridge to manage traffic.

Due to the narrow bridge deck, cars cross alternately according to traffic signals. Vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons are prohibited, and car traffic is restricted from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

With no sidewalks, pedestrians must walk under the bridge, weaving through the heavy traffic. "The bridge has been dilapidated and narrow for a long time, so during rush hour, especially after school, it gets very crowded," said Pham Van Binh, 56.

Current state of the deteriorated Rach Tom bridge.

The bridge deck is made of welded steel mesh. Some joints between the steel plates are loose, causing the bridge to shake violently and make loud noises when vehicles pass. Additionally, the bridge surface becomes slippery when it rains, making it easy for motorcycles to fall.

The bridge railing is over one meter high, with large gaps in many sections. Residents say that to ensure safety, the railing has been reinforced with steel bars for about 5 years.

The bridge piers have been reinforced with steel frames to increase their load-bearing capacity. The low vertical clearance also creates difficulties for boats traveling on the canal.

Some steel parts and structures of the bridge are rusty and decayed after more than half a century of use.

To make way for the new bridge, many households on both sides of the road are dismantling their houses and handing over the land. In 2024, the investor disbursed all compensation, support, and resettlement costs for the project to the former Nha Be district. So far, 83 of the 111 affected households have agreed to accept the compensation.

At the end of June, the Compensation and Site Clearance Board handed over the site for the construction of abutment M1 and pier T1. The remaining site is expected to be handed over by the end of September.

On the afternoon of 8/7, Nguyen Thi Le's family (65 years old) was repairing their house after handing over more than 70 m2 of land for the bridge construction. "My family agreed to the compensation of over 3 billion VND. Now we are rebuilding a smaller house, only 40 m2. I hope the new bridge will be completed soon so that people can travel more easily," said Mrs. Le.

The new bridge will have a total length of 684 m, including a 173 m long and 15 m wide bridge deck, with the rest being approach roads. Upon completion, the project will help reduce traffic congestion, shorten travel time, and improve the urban landscape of the area.

In addition to the Rach Tom bridge, which is about to begin construction, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has approved the investment plan for the remaining Rach Doi bridge with a total capital of nearly 781 billion VND. The project is awaiting the completion of procedures to commence, aiming to create a synchronized traffic network on the route.

Location of Rach Tom bridge. Graphics: Hoang Thanh

According to the investor, Le Van Luong Street is a vital traffic artery connecting the southern area of Ho Chi Minh City and the new Tay Ninh province, especially given the increasing travel and trade demands between the two localities.

Quynh Tran