Can Tho Bridge
Encyclopedia
Cần Thơ Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge
over the Hậu (Bassac
) River, the largest distributary
of the Mekong River, in the city of Cần Thơ in southern Vietnam
. The bridge is 2.75 kilometres long (1.68 miles). It has a 6-lane carriageway
measuring 23 metres (76 feet) in width, with 4 lanes for traffic and two pedestrian
lanes. It has a clearance
of 39 metres (128 feet), which allows large ships to pass underneath it. The bridge was inaugurated on April 24, 2010.
The bridge is currently the longest main span cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia
. The cost of construction is estimated to be 4.842 trillion Vietnamese đồng (approximately 342.6 million U.S.
dollar
s), making it the most expensive bridge in Vietnam.
Phan Văn Khải launched construction of the bridge on September 25, 2004, which was scheduled to be completed in late 2008. The collapse of the partially built bridge in 2007 delayed its opening. The can Tho bridge is one among 17 bridges planned to integrate the Mekong Delta
into the road network of Vietnam by 2020. The bridge replaced the network of ferries
on the National Road 1A linking Vĩnh Long Province on the east shore with Cần Thơ city on the westbank.
The construction of the bridge was supervised by the consultant group Nippon Koei-Chodai and contracted to several Japan
ese contractors
: Taisei Corporation
, Kajima Construction
and Nippon Steel
. Capital
for the project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
with official development assistance
loan from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation and the Vietnamese government
. Cần Thơ Bridge is insured by the Petrolimex Joint Stock Insurance Company and PetroVietnam Insurance Company for 3.2 trillion Vietnamese đồng (200 million U.S. dollars).
The construction of the Cần Thơ Bridge was subdivided into three contract
s, with one contractor handling the first approach bridge, the second building the main bridge, and the third constructing the southern approach road into Cần Thơ.
The partially built Cần Thơ Bridge collapsed during construction. The accident occurred at 8 a.m. local time (GMT
+7) on the morning of September 26, 2007, when a 90-meter section of an approach ramp, rising more than 30 meters above the ground, collapsed. The collapsed section was above a small island located on the Vinh Long
side of the bridge. There were 250 engineers and workers working on and under the span at the time. As of September 27, the number of reported casualties varies, with one source saying 52 people died and 140 were injured. While other sources show that the death toll has reached 59, still others report the number of casualties have reached 64. According to Dr. Trần Chủng, head of the national construction QA/QC authority under the Ministry of Construction, this is the most catastrophic disaster in the history of Vietnam’s construction industry.
in Hồ Chí Minh City
sent two professional rescue teams to the site. All the combined rescue efforts were put under the leadership of Hoàng Trung Hải
, Vice Premier of the Government and forces from Ministries of National Defence.
Rescue efforts received international support. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
sent its resources located in Ho Chi Minh City
, Singapore
and Bangkok
to Can Tho. The International SOS Alarm Centre and Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City
sent a first response team of three doctors, a nurse, an interpreter and operations manager. Rescue efforts were carried out with cranes rather than by direct rescue personnel because of the risk of collapse of the remaining part of the bridge.
and Kajima Construction
companies from operating in Vietnam for one year, blaming the two Japanese companies for failing to secure the bridge support.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
over the Hậu (Bassac
Bassac River
The Bassac River is a distributary of the Tonle Sap and Mekong River. The river starts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and flows southerly, crossing the border into Vietnam near Châu Đốc....
) River, the largest distributary
Distributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
of the Mekong River, in the city of Cần Thơ in southern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The bridge is 2.75 kilometres long (1.68 miles). It has a 6-lane carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
measuring 23 metres (76 feet) in width, with 4 lanes for traffic and two pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
lanes. It has a clearance
Air draft
Air draft is the distance from the surface of the water to the highest point on a vessel, similar to the "deep draft" of a vessel which is measured from the surface of the water to the deepest part of the hull below the surface, but "air draft" is expressed as a height, not a depth.The vessel's...
of 39 metres (128 feet), which allows large ships to pass underneath it. The bridge was inaugurated on April 24, 2010.
The bridge is currently the longest main span cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. The cost of construction is estimated to be 4.842 trillion Vietnamese đồng (approximately 342.6 million U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s), making it the most expensive bridge in Vietnam.
Construction
Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Vietnam
-Office:The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the head of the executive branch of the Vietnamese government. The Prime Minister presides over the Vietnamese cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and supervising ministers...
Phan Văn Khải launched construction of the bridge on September 25, 2004, which was scheduled to be completed in late 2008. The collapse of the partially built bridge in 2007 delayed its opening. The can Tho bridge is one among 17 bridges planned to integrate the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
into the road network of Vietnam by 2020. The bridge replaced the network of ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
on the National Road 1A linking Vĩnh Long Province on the east shore with Cần Thơ city on the westbank.
The construction of the bridge was supervised by the consultant group Nippon Koei-Chodai and contracted to several Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese contractors
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
: Taisei Corporation
Taisei Corporation
is a Japanese corporation which was established in 1873. Its main areas of business are building construction, civil engineering, and real estate development....
, Kajima Construction
Kajima Construction
( is a Japanese construction company. Founded in 1840, the company has its headquarters in Moto-Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. The company is known for its DIB-200 proposal.-Demolition Technology:...
and Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel
, also referred to as , was formed in 1970. Nippon Steel Corporation is the world's 4th largest steel producer by volume.-Early years:Nippon Steel was created by the merger of two giants, Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel...
. Capital
Capital (economics)
In economics, capital, capital goods, or real capital refers to already-produced durable goods used in production of goods or services. The capital goods are not significantly consumed, though they may depreciate in the production process...
for the project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...
with official development assistance
Official development assistance
Official development assistance is a term compiled by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to measure aid. The DAC first compiled the term in 1969. It is widely used by academics and journalists as a convenient indicator of...
loan from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation and the Vietnamese government
Politics of Vietnam
Notwithstanding the 1992 Constitution's affirmation of the central role of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, according to the Constitution, is the highest representative body of the people and the only organization with legislative powers. It has a broad mandate to oversee all government...
. Cần Thơ Bridge is insured by the Petrolimex Joint Stock Insurance Company and PetroVietnam Insurance Company for 3.2 trillion Vietnamese đồng (200 million U.S. dollars).
The construction of the Cần Thơ Bridge was subdivided into three contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
s, with one contractor handling the first approach bridge, the second building the main bridge, and the third constructing the southern approach road into Cần Thơ.
Collapse
The partially built Cần Thơ Bridge collapsed during construction. The accident occurred at 8 a.m. local time (GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
+7) on the morning of September 26, 2007, when a 90-meter section of an approach ramp, rising more than 30 meters above the ground, collapsed. The collapsed section was above a small island located on the Vinh Long
Vinh Long
Vĩnh Long is the capital of the Vinh Long province in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The name was spelled 永隆 in the former Hán Tự writing system....
side of the bridge. There were 250 engineers and workers working on and under the span at the time. As of September 27, the number of reported casualties varies, with one source saying 52 people died and 140 were injured. While other sources show that the death toll has reached 59, still others report the number of casualties have reached 64. According to Dr. Trần Chủng, head of the national construction QA/QC authority under the Ministry of Construction, this is the most catastrophic disaster in the history of Vietnam’s construction industry.
Rescue efforts
Immediately following the accident, many workers at the site joined the rescue forces to take the injured out of the debris. Local people, students, and cadres also joined the rescue teams. In addition, Chợ Rẫy HospitalCho Ray Hospital
Chợ Rẫy Hospital is the largest general hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, founded in 1900 during the French colonial rule as Hôpital Municipal de Cholon...
in Hồ Chí Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
sent two professional rescue teams to the site. All the combined rescue efforts were put under the leadership of Hoàng Trung Hải
Hoang Trung Hai
Hoàng Trung Hải is the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam. Before taking this post, he had been the Minister of Industry of Vietnam. Hoàng Trung Hải graduated from Hanoi University of Technology with a university degree in power systems. He also gained an MBA in Dublin University, Ireland.-References:...
, Vice Premier of the Government and forces from Ministries of National Defence.
Rescue efforts received international support. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
AmCham Vietnam is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization. Its objectives are:* Promote the development of trade, commerce, and investment between the United States and Vietnam...
sent its resources located in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
to Can Tho. The International SOS Alarm Centre and Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
sent a first response team of three doctors, a nurse, an interpreter and operations manager. Rescue efforts were carried out with cranes rather than by direct rescue personnel because of the risk of collapse of the remaining part of the bridge.
Aftermath
In response to the collapse, in July 2009 the Vietnamese government punitively banned the TaiseiTaisei Corporation
is a Japanese corporation which was established in 1873. Its main areas of business are building construction, civil engineering, and real estate development....
and Kajima Construction
Kajima Construction
( is a Japanese construction company. Founded in 1840, the company has its headquarters in Moto-Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. The company is known for its DIB-200 proposal.-Demolition Technology:...
companies from operating in Vietnam for one year, blaming the two Japanese companies for failing to secure the bridge support.