An inspection of the design and construction of the new surface covering Thang Long Bridge was conducted after a series of cracks appeared just three months after the repairs were completed.

A crack on the surface of Thang Long bridge.

The Ministry of Transport yesterday asked relevant departments to investigate the cause of 10 new cracks, averaging one metre in length and 4cm to 7cm wide, that appeared on the surface of the bridge.

Two cracks were discovered and repaired before the Lunar New Year holiday, said Nguyen Nang The, deputy director of Project Management Unit No 2, the project investor. However, larger cracks appeared recently.

The said advanced technology for road construction was applied during the repairs and all materials were imported from England.

An inspection team headed by Ha Noi People’s Committee vice chairman Nguyen Van Khoi worked on the bridge last Saturday, but the cause of the cracks has yet to be determined.

The contractor, Bao Quan Construction Company, has been asked to repair all cracks by the end of this month while the inspection team waited for results from the Institute for Transport Science and Technology, said Nguyen Van Cong, head of the Administrative Department under the Ministry of Transport, Nguyen Van Cong.

The bridge re-paving was completed from the end of October to December last year at a cost of VND50 billion (US$2.6 million).

VietNamNet/Vietnam News