The design of the Đại Ngãi Bridge connecting Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces in the Mekong Delta. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

MEKONG DELTA — Đại Ngãi Bridge construction will startin the first quarter of 2023, a project that will shorten the travel time between the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta and HCM City by 1.5-2 hours.

The Prime Minister has approved the Ministry of Transport to implement a BOT project to build the first phase of the Đại Ngãi Bridge connecting Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces.

The ministry has asked the investor and related units to speed up the progress of the bridge.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Duy Lâm said the new bridge will reduce travelling distance between HCM City and the delta provinces by 80 kilometres.

It also helps to reduce transport costs and ease traffic pressure on National Highway 1A.

The project will have a total length of 15.2km on National Highway No. 60, crossing the Hậu River.

Its construction is estimated to cost more than VNĐ8 trillion (US$321.5 million) sourced from the State budget.

It is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

The ministry's Project Management Unit No. 85 (PMU 85) is the project’s investor.

PMU 85, consultants and relevant agencies are working to urgently complete the feasibility study report for the project to submit it to the ministry for approval by the end of this year.

The new bridge is expected to fully exploit the delta region's potential and strengths for strong growth. — VNS