More bridges expected in Khanh Son

Khanh Son District, Khanh Hoa Province, enjoys great advantages in the cultivation of high economic value fruit trees. However, agricultural land is mostly along the 2 banks of To Hap River. Therefore, the district has suggested the province would invest in more reinforced concrete bridges across To Hap River to make good use of local agricultural potentials along the 2 river banks.

 

Many advantages for farming 

 

Since 2020, the construction of Ko Roa Bridge across Ko Roa Stream has facilitated produce transportation and travel of hundreds of residents in the villages of Ko Roa, Du Oai and Ha Nit (Son Lam Commune) in Ko Roa farming area of more than 200ha.

 

Ko Roa farming area is mostly with banana and other fruits trees. Before the construction of Ko Roa Bridge, farmers had used to wade across the stream, carrying heavy bags of banana and durians after harvest. It was impossible to cross the river in rainy or flooding seasons. Some cases of drowning have been reported in the flooded river. The large concrete bridge has provided convenience for the trade, allowing cars and motorbikes to reach the farms to buy produce, says Cao Muong, a Ko Roa villager.

 

 

 

 

The 300ha farming area in Ha Nit Village has durian and other fruit trees owned by 150 farmers in Son Lam Commune. The farming area is separated from the Provincial Road 9 by To Hap River. Before Ha Nit Bridge was constructed and put into operation in July 2021, local residents had used to take agricultural products and materials on motor bikes across shallow areas of To Hap River.

 

The new bridge has provided access to and from the fields and gardens. Traders can easily reach the fields and gardens by cars to buy durians. “Thanks to the central funding, 2 new bridges across To Hap River and Ko Roa Stream have been constructed in the commune, facilitating travel and transportation of produce,” says Trinh Dinh Ba, Chairman of Son Lam Commune People’s Committee.

 

Apart from Son Lam Commune, in recent years, thanks to the funding from the province and the district, some other concrete bridges have been competed and under way in Khanh Son District. They include bridges across main streams or leading to Suoi Cho farming area in Thanh Son Commune, and to Ta Gu farming area in Son Hiep Commune, helping local travel to be safer and more convenient.

 

More bridges expected

 

At recent voter conferences, residents in the 2 villages of A Pa 1 and A Pa 2 in Thanh Son Commune have made appeals for the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge across To Hap River connecting the Provincial Road 9 with a 170ha farming area. There is only one old hanging bridge over To Hap River connecting the farming area with the commune center.

 

The existing hanging bridge cannot meet the demand for travel and transportation of produce, especially during the crop diversification and restructuring with investment in fruit orchards. A solid concrete bridge is needed in order to exploit the agricultural potentials on the other side of To Hap River, according to the leader of Thanh Son Commune People's Committee.

 

Khanh Son is a mountainous district with most of agricultural land on mountains separated by To Hap River and many other streams. There is approximately 4,200ha of agricultural land, mainly along the 2 banks of To Hap River. To take advantage of the agricultural potentials, the locality has made appeals to build more reinforced concrete bridges with high capacity connecting the 2 banks of To Hap River in the communes of Thanh Son, Son Lam, Son Binh, Son Hiep, Ba Cum Bac and To Hap Town, according to Mau Thai Cu, Secretary of Khanh Son District People’s Committee. 

 

H.L

Translated by N.T