VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport signed a consultancy service agreement for constructing the Nhat Tan Bridge on Monday in the capital.
The contract was signed with Japan's NEC Corporation and Chodai Co., Ltd and Vietnamese Transport Engineering Design Corporation.
The bridge will be the fifth to come up over Hong (Red) River in Hanoi following Long Bien, Thang Long, Chuong Duong and the under construction Thanh Tri bridges.
Nguyen Ngoc Tram, general director of the Project Management Unit No 85 and also the representative of the investor, said the consulting, design and appraisal of the project would be completed by mid 2008.
Construction of the VND7.5tril (US$486mil) bridge was expected to start in mid 2008 and completed by early 2011, he said.
Of the VND7.5tril ($486mil), Japanese official development assistance (ODA), paid by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation, would account for $358mil.
The bridge with a length of 3,916m and width of 33.2m will be constructed on the Ring Road No 2 of the city and connect the inner city (from Lac Long Quan Street) with Dong Anh District.
The bridge will complete the city road Belt No 2, which is connected to National Highway No 5 to Hai Phong City and National Highway 3 to midland and mountainous provinces in the north.
Nhat Tan Bridge will help to reduce traffic from Hanoi to Noi Bai International Airport and northern provinces, serve economic development in the city's industrial zones of Bac Thang Long-Van Tri, Dong Anh-Co Loa, Gia Lam Sai Dong-Yen Vien, develop the city's north as well as boost tourism.
(Source: Viet Nam News) | 
