Rescue work is carried out on Thursday after a barge hit the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, causing a portion of the bridge to break off. [Photo by Zheng Erqi/China Daily]

Two spans and one support of the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou's Nansha district, which was struck by a barge last week, will be dismantled, local officials said in a statement issued on Monday.

The district housing and urban-rural development bureau will then monitor the body of the bridge and provide expert opinions to accelerate repair work.

Construction of a makeshift automobile bridge was approved by experts over the weekend, with materials and machinery already sent to the site.

The makeshift bridge, scheduled to be completed in seven to 10 days, will connect Sanmin Island to the town of Minzhong in the neighboring city of Zhongshan.

A portion of the Lixinsha Bridge, the only land transport link to Sanmin Island, collapsed on Thursday morning after two supports were struck by the barge and a span collapsed. Five vehicles fell into the river, killing five people and injuring two.

The collapse of the bridge also destroyed a water supply pipeline, causing a temporary water supply shortage. The island is home to 9,100 people.

After more than 40 hours of repair work, water supply has now returned to normal. The travel needs of island residents have basically been met after two temporary ferry docks started operation over the weekend, increasing the frequency of ferry services, the statement said.