HÀ NỘI — Construction work on extending Ring Road 3, the lifeline of Hà Nội, started this morning. The project is estimated to cost more than VNĐ3.1 trillion (US$137.8 million) from the city’s budget.

The extended road, which will be 5.5 km long, runs from Mai Dịch intersection in Cầu Giấy district to Km5+500 on Thăng Long bridge. It will have six lanes and five walking bridges.

The project covers an area of about 39.2 hectares across two wards in Cầu Giấy district and three wards in Bắc Từ Liêm District.

At VNĐ1.824 trillion (over $81 million), the cost of land clearance accounts for more than half the investment. So far 35 per cent of the land clearance is done.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nguyễn Đức Chung, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, highlighted the important role of the Ring Road 3’s extension for improving the city’s connectivity.

“Ring Road 3 is the lifeline of the city, linking the northern and north-eastern provinces, industrials zones and Nội Bài International Airport with the city centre,” he said.

Once completed, the road is expected to ease traffic congestion on Phạm Văn Đồng, Nguyễn Hoàng Tôn and Cổ Nhuế và Hoàng Quốc Việt crossroads.

The road will also move forward the transport ministry’s plan to build a bridge from Mai Dịch to Thăng Long Bridge, which will wrap up Ring Road 3 construction as planned until 2030, with a vision towards 2050, he said.

The chairman asked investors and contractors to mobilise sufficient human and material resources to ensure that the project maintains high quality standards, keeps the environment clean and does not affect residents.

“The city’s construction department must work with the transport department to move trees from the construction area to nursery gardens for cultivation,” he said.

The extension of Ring Road 3 is one of the 52 key projects for the city between 2016 and 2020. Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc gave the project the go-ahead with specific mechanisms in awarding the contract. — VNS