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Vietnam's longest bridge to link Mekong delta provinces

HANOI - Approval has been given to begin site clearance and resettlement of residents affected by construction of Can Tho Bridge by the Minister of Transport, Le Ngoc Hoan. The Mekong Delta's bridge, to be built on National Highway No. 1A, will be Vietnam's longest bridge and will link Vinh Long Province's Binh Minh District to the north, with Can Tho Province's Chau Thanh District in the south.

According to a decision signed by Minister Hoan on April 28, construction preparations, including site clearance and resettlement, will cost VND141.6 billion (US$10 million). Total construction costs are expected to be about $295 million, making it not only the longest, but most expensive bridge to be built in Vietnam. Funding for the bridge will come from the Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) and the Vietnamese Government with a loan agreement expected to be signed between the two parties late this year, said Dr. Dang Thi Hoc, deputy director of the Transport Ministry's International Relations Department.

Funds earmarked specifically for compensation, demolition of homes and the building of new residential areas to house those forced to make way for the bridge will come from the Government's own contribution to the project. Compensation calculations for those effected by construction will be conducted between July and September, while new residential areas will be completed by October this year. Dr. Hoc told Viet Namnews Agency that bridge construction is scheduled to start early next year and will take about four years to complete. The total area needed for construction will be 265.8ha - 194ha for the bridge, 62.2ha for the construction site and 9.6ha for new residential areas.

Once complete, Can Tho Bridge is expected to pave the way for further development of Can Tho city, the capital of the Mekong Delta and neighbouring provinces, according to a Transport Ministry report. A master plan for the development of Can Tho city to 2010 identified Can Tho Bridge as a key factor in attracting domestic and foreign investment to the Mekong Delta area. The six-lane bridge (four lanes for vehicles and two walkways for pedestrians) will provide a much needed alternative for traffic which currently crosses the river by ferry at Can Tho. The Can Tho ferry carries about 7,000 vehicles per day, a figure expected to rise to 13,000 by 2006, according to estimates from the Can Tho Ferry Company. Ministry of Transport officials say Can Tho Bridge will carry about 17,000 vehicles a day by 2006, rising to more than 29,500 by 2010 and 75,000 by 2020.

The cable-braced bridge will span the Hau River (on the lower Mekong) and will be made from reinforced concrete on caisson piers. It will be 2,720m long, including approach ramps, and 24.9m wide. With approach roads included, the bridge will stretch a total of 15.35km. At 39m high, the bridge will allow 15,000 dead weight tonne sized ships to pass under its 1,040m central span. Can Tho Bridge will be the third bridge across the lower reaches of the Mekong River. The others are the Friendship Bridge connecting Thailand and Laos, and My Thuan Bridge across the Tien River, due to be opened soon.

Vietnam News Agency - May 18, 2000.