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.
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