Hanoi to build mobile steel bridges for traffic, emergency relief
Hanoi is prioritizing flexible and quickly deployed bridges to tackle traffic bottlenecks and aging infrastructure.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi plans to spend VND15 billion (US$587,251) on three makeshift steel bridges, known as Bailey bridges, to help respond to emergencies and ease traffic congestion caused by the city's aging and damaged infrastructure.
A makeshift bridge on Kim Nguu Street in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. Photo: Dai Doan Ket Newspaper
The project is scheduled to be implemented in 2025-2026. The makeshift bridges will be installed across the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, Set, and Nhue rivers. These installations will help maintain connectivity when existing bridges are damaged or traffic surges unexpectedly.
According to city officials, Hanoi currently has 167 makeshift, low-capacity, and deteriorating bridges, many of which pose public safety risks. Of these, 53 are directly managed by the city, while the rest fall under the jurisdiction of district and town-level authorities.
In response, Hanoi plans to set aside nearly VND2.5 trillion ($97.9 million) for the construction and repair of locally managed bridges. Many of these structures are aging, temporary facilities that carry only a single lane of traffic or are limited to bicycles and motorcycles.
In the coming months, the city will monitor the ongoing renovation and replacement of weakened and makeshift bridges as part of a broader infrastructure improvement plan across the capital.
