Hà Nội will take over three delayed transport projects from the Ministry of Transport to speed up efforts in curbing traffic jams in the city. — Photo cafef.vn

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội will take over three delayed transport projects from the Ministry of Transport to speed up efforts in curbing traffic jams in the city.

The three projects are the Lê Văn Lương Tunnel on the city’s Ring Road No 3, the Mễ Sở Bridge Project crossing the Hồng River and connecting Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Expressway with Hà Nội-Hải Phòng Expressway, and the interchange between Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ expressway and Ring Road No 3.

According to the ministry, investment was planned for the projects but had failed to materialise due to a shortage of funds.

The Lê Văn Lương Tunnel, designed to incorporate four lanes over a width of 19.1m, requires investment of VNĐ547 billion (US$24 million). It is part of projects on Ring Road No 3 that are developed using Japan’s overseas development assistance (ODA). However, the tunnel project is ineligible to receive the ODA disbursement because it has been implemented late.

The Mễ Trì Bridge, 1.5km long and 16m wide, requires investment of VNĐ4.5 trillion ($198 million). The bridge should have been built under a Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract but the BOT investor refused to continue the project.

The interchange between Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Expressway and Ring Road No 3 needs investment of VNĐ800 billion ($35.2 million) but the ministry failed to find sufficient funding.

Vice Chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Thế Hùng said that the project on completing the interchange between Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Expressway and Ring Road No 3 included two bridges crossing Linh Đàm Lake and two approaching roads to the viaduct.

The bridges and the approaching roads, once completed, could help reduce traffic congestion at the southern gate of Hà Nội.

“The city will spend its budget to build the two bridges and the approaching roads this year,” Hùng said.

Meanwhile, the city would call for investment, especially from the private sector, for the other two projects taken from the transport ministry. — VNS