QUẢNG NAM — The central province officially launched the Giao Thủy Bridge--one of the key projects connecting mountainous areas with the provincial centre and Đà Nẵng City--on the occasion of the province’s Liberation Day (March 24th).

Đặng Bá Dự, head of the province’s investment projects management board, said the four-lane bridge, which began construction in 2015 with a total investment of VNĐ823 billion (US$36.4 million), will help link mountainous districts of Nông Sơn, Quế Sơn, rural Duy Xuyên District in Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng City.

The 1km long concrete bridge will help vehicles travel safely and move efficiently between two provincial roads – DT609 and DT610 – crossing over the Thu Bồn River.

Dự called it one of the most important projects boosting socio-economic development and eco-tourism in the poverty-stricken mountainous districts.

“The bridge provides a shortcut from Đà Nẵng to Duy Xuyên district and mountainous areas in Quảng Nam Province. It also puts an end to the operation of dangerous ferry travel among communities during flood season,” Dự said.

He said the bridge will links the UNESCO-recognised heritage Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Duy Xuyên District with ancient Hội An City and destinations in Đà Nẵng, Huế City and neighbouring provinces of Quảng Bình and Quảng Ngãi provinces.

Local residents walk on the Giao Thủy Bridge – one of the key projects connecting mountainous areas in QUảng Nam with Đà Nẵng City – on the occasion of the province’s Liberation Day (March 24th). —VNS Photo Công Thành

The province also launched yesterday the 10km rescue and ring road project from Duy Xuyên to Nông Sơn with total investment of VNĐ120 billion ($5.3 million).

The key traffic projects aims to develop eco-tourism sites in Đại Bình and Hòn Kẽm and Đá Dừng in Nông Sơn District.

Last year, the province commenced construction on two key projects – the Nam Hội An Integrated Resort Project, invested by VinaCapital and Gold Yield Enterprises Corporations, and the expansion of the Trường Hải-Chu Lai Mechanical Automobile Industrial Zone, with initial capital of $535.3 million.

A local report said that the province’s tourism industry had contributed VNĐ3.5 ($167 million) over the past decade, equal to 10 per cent of the province’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP).

The province, home to world heritage sites Hội An, Mỹ Sơn sanctuary and Chàm Island biosphere reserve, has attracted 110 tourism projects since 1997. — VNS