A makeshift bridge in Tra Vinh Province, southern Vietnam collapsed on Sunday as two trucks were traveling onto it for load testing, with no casualties reported, confirmed a local official.

The bridge developer on Sunday morning used two five-ton trucks to conduct a load test on the bridge, which is capable of serving pedestrians, two-wheelers, and rudimentary vehicles, said Nguyen Van Tam, chairman of the provincial administration.

The developer had to try a large load level in case heavy trucks run through the bridge at night, the chairman elaborated.

The developer will take over responsibility for the incident, he said.

Located along Hung Vuong Street in the provincial capital city of Tra Vinh, the 3.5m-wide Long Binh 1 makeshift bridge was built out of iron.

It is some 200m away from the existing Long Binh 1 bridge. A new bridge will be constructed here.

Work on the makeshift bridge began on June 13 this year to satisfy the travel demand of local residents, while waiting for work on the Long Binh 1 bridge project to be done.

Authorities earlier ordered suspension of vehicular movement on the Long Binh 1 bridge from July 19 to March 15, 2024.

During the implementation of the Long Binh 1 bridge project, bicycles, motorcycles, and rudimentary vehicles will be allowed to travel on the makeshift bridge after the collapse is fixed.

Meanwhile, cars are required to use the Long Binh 2 and Long Binh 3 bridges, about 6-7km away.

The Mekong Delta province approved the project last year, with a total price tag of VND63 billion (US$2.6 million) backed by the provincial budget.

With a length of 54m and width of 12m, the Long Binh 1 bridge is to be built at the same location as the old one and expanded to the downstream areas of the Long Binh River.​

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