Rail safety project to cost $41 million

HA NOI (VNS)— A VND867 billion project (US$41.3 million) to build flyovers, tunnels and fences along the railway running through 28 cities and provinces was launched on Wednesday in central Da Nang City.

Under the plan, two railway flyovers will be constructed in central Quang Ngai Province and another railway flyover will be constructed in Da Nang. In addition, three railway tunnels will be built along the Ha Noi-HCM City railway line.

More than 94km of frontage roads and railings plus 55 crossings will also be built along the Ha Noi-Ho Chi Minh, Yen Vien-Lao Cai, Ha Noi-Dong Dang, Kep-Luu Xa, Bac Hong-Van Dien railway lines.

The whole project, set to be completed by the end of 2013, is expected to help ease traffic congestion and raise railway safety in residential areas where illegal paths are often built by residents.

Nguyen Huu Bang, chairman of Viet Nam Railways' management board, said the railways would ensure the safe and smooth traffic during construction, despite the tight time frame and complexity of the project.

According to Doi Sy Hung, head of the Investment Preparation Board of the Railway Traffic Safety Project, there are more than 1,470 legal paths crossing railway lines plus another 4,850 paths illegally set up by local people throughout the country.

Hung said 86 per cent of these paths did not meet safety requirements.

Meanwhile in Ha Noi, 40 locations along roads that are frequently congested plus another 20 intersection points between roads and railroads will be upgraded over the next three years by the municipal People's Committee.

Cau Giay Street and a series of the connecting Nguyen Khoai-Linh Nam-Thuy Linh Streets plus Le Trong Tan-Truong Chinh-Ton That Tung Streets are among the areas targeted.

Bridges across the To Lich, Kim Nguu and Lu Set rivers will be built to ease congestion on both sides of the rivers. — VNS