HẢI PHÒNG — A sea bridge that is over 5.44km long, part of Tân Vũ-Lạch Huyện Highway in the northern port city of Hải Phòng, was put into operation on September 2, becoming one of the longest of its kind in Southeast Asia. 

The inaugural ceremony of the highway’s section from km2+810 to km15+630 was attended by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Umeda Kunio and officials of some ministries and localities. 

The Tân Vũ-Lạch Huyện Highway project also forms part of a project on building infrastructure of Lạch Huyện Port, which is set to become the first international transit port in the north of Việt Nam. 

With the total length of 15.63km, the road begins at the intersection with Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Expressway and ends at the gate of Lạch Huyện Port. It has total investment of nearly VNĐ11.85 trillion (US$521.4 million), including 50.17 billion JPY loaned through Japan’s official development assistance and VNĐ1.8 billion covered by the Vietnamese Government. 

The construction of the sea bridge, named Đình Vũ-Cát Hải, was completed on schedule, in 36 months. 

Tân Vũ-Lạch Huyện Highway is expected to cut down travel time and reduce risks in transport by ferry and barge. It is also hoped to help boost Hải Phòng’s coastal economic development, attract investors to projects in Đình Vũ-Cát Hải Economic Zone, and promote tourism in the UNESCO-recognised Cát Bà Biosphere Reserve and neighbouring areas. 

In his speech, PM Phúc applauded efforts and responsibility of the Transport Ministry, relevant ministries and sectors, consultancies, supervisors, contractors, engineers and workers of Việt Nam and Japan who put the project into operation ahead of schedule. 

He also thanked Japanese leaders and people, especially the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Hà Nội, for capital assistance and close coordination in project implementation. 

The project has also helped promote the strategic partnership and friendship between Việt Nam and Japan, he added. — VNS