Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attends a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Đại Ngãi Bridge in Trà Vinh Province on Sunday. VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

VĨNH LONG – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Sunday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Đại Ngãi Bridge, which spans the Hậu River and connects the Mekong Delta’s Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces.

The 15.14-km bridge has total investment capital of over VNĐ8 trillion (US$327 million), from the State budget.

The project includes seven bridges in total and five intersections, including the primary cable-stayed bridges, namely Đại Ngãi 1 with the length of 2,560 metres and Đại Ngãi 2 with the length of 862 metres.

It is expected that the completion of the Đại Ngãi Bridge by the end of 2026 will eliminate the last two ferry terminals along National Highway No60.

The project is a vital coastal transport route connecting localities in the Mekong Delta region. Once completed, it will help cut the travel distance from the region to HCM City by some 80 kilometres compared to the current route along National Highway No1.

Addressing the event, PM Chính emphasised that the Road Development Planning for the 2021-2030 period with a vision toward 2050 approved by the Prime Minister aimed to gradually complete the transportation infrastructure to serve the strategy of eradicating poverty and achieving economic growth in the Mekong Delta region. The Đại Ngãi Bridge construction project was identified as a significant component of this plan.

PM Chính commended the strong and effective direction from the ministries of Transport, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, and related agencies. He also praised the determined efforts of the local authorities in Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces in land clearance and in proposing comprehensive solutions to expedite the project as well as local people for their contributions, including the allocation of land and housing for the project's land clearance.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that there was still a lot of work to be done to complete the project, and it involved challenging tasks such as clearing remaining land areas, preparing construction materials and dumping sites, and constructing large-scale infrastructure in complex geological conditions.

This required active involvement and responsibility from local authorities to ensure that the project would be completed with high quality, on schedule, and with safety and environmental standards, he added.

To ensure the completion of the project, PM Chính instructed the Ministry of Transport to require the project management board, consulting and supervisory agencies, and construction contractors to demonstrate the highest level of responsibility.

He emphasised the need for a well-planned, detailed, and effective construction approach, adhering to technical and aesthetic standards, legal regulations, and avoiding corruption or waste of State resources.

He also called for close coordination between central government agencies, the People's Committees of the two provinces and the Ministry of Transport to address challenges and maintain security and order. He urged localities in the Mekong Delta region with mineral resources to prioritise the supply of construction materials, particularly sand, for the project and to grant licences for the extraction of construction materials to contractors.

The Government leader also assigned the People's Committees of Trà Vinh and Sóc Trăng provinces to continue the work of compensation and resettlement to ensure stable livelihoods for affected residents, providing them with better living conditions and job opportunities in new areas. – VNS