Four rather large potholes at the end of a new bridge in Ho Chi Minh City caused cars to shake when Tuoi Tre tested them out July 14, just days after the platform opened.

Potholes seen on the Rach Chiec Bridge on July 14, 2012, Photo: Tuoi Tre

The depressions on Rach Chiec Bridge on Hanoi Highway also risk overturning vehicles.

Ly Ngoc Hung, deputy director of Urban Traffic Management Board No. 2 under the city Department of Transport, said the investors did not know about the damage but promised to examine it immediately.

The investor is the Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 2.

Basic work on the bridge finished five months ahead of schedule, but contractors Thang Long Construction Corporation and Traffic Works Construction Corporation No. 1 are still finalizing the project.

Hung said the corporations are responsible for repairs because they haven’t officially transferred the bridge to the investor.

Rach Chiec has six main and four secondary lanes, with a boat clearance of six meters.

Inaugurated July 10 after 17 months of construction, the bridge cost VND1 trillion (US$48 million) and is meant to ease congestion from Thu Duc District to Districts 2 and 9.

City authorities said the bridge, 735 meters long and 48 meters, should boost economic activity between Ho Chi Minh City and southeastern provinces.

On the same day, work began on the first steel flyover in HCMC at the Thu Duc intersection.

The flyover, which will be 570 meters long, 6 meters wide and have four lanes, will be completed early next year at a cost of about VND227 billion (US$10.9 million).

Source: Tuoi Tre