The Hòa Phước-Hòa Khương ring-road opened in Đà Nẵng yesterday connecting the south and east of the city. — VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city of Đà Nẵng opened the Hòa Phước-Hòa Khương section of a ring-road project yesterday, creating a smooth connection between National Highway No 1A and No 14B to the south and east of the city.

The 7km four-lane road, which was built with total funds of VNĐ490 billion (US$21.3 million) from the World Bank and the city’s counter fund, will help ease traffic congestion in the city centre and promote links to the East-West Economic Corridor that connects Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Việt Nam.

The road, which is part of the city’s sustainable development plan, will help boost development to the south of the city in a new developing urban area.

Đà Nẵng plans to complete construction of its ring-road system in the west and south connecting National Highway No 14B and the Hồ Chí Minh Trail by 2020.

The city’s ring-road system will also help link the city’s Information Technology Park, Hi-tech Park, La Sơn-Túy Loan Highway, Liên Chiểu Port and Kim Liên railway cargo station as a logistics centre for the East-West Economic Corridor.

In 2013, the World Bank agreed to provide $202 million for a US$272-million sustainable development project to help improve the city’s Bus Rapid Transit network, build new roads, and revamp the existing drainage system.

In 2008-13, the WB also donated 70 per cent of the total investment of US$218.4 million for a priority infrastructure project in the city.

These projects have helped Đà Nẵng become a more sustainable city by improving the urban environment and increasing urban mobility in a clean, safe, inclusive and energy efficient manner.

Đà Nẵng, which is widely regarded as a being well-planned and well governed with better infrastructure than other cities in the country, has been investing much in urban development to make it a ‘green and smart’ city by 2025.

Last year, the 140km Đà Nẵng-Quảng Ngãi Expressway – the first expressway in the central and central highlands region – was also opened to reduce travel times from Đà Nẵng to Quảng Ngãi from three hours to 1.5 hours. — VNS

Officials from Đà Nẵng's People's Committee take part in an opening ceremony for the Hòa Phước-Hòa Khương ring-road project yesterday. It will help create a smooth traffic connection between National Highway No 1A and No 14B. VNS Photo Công Thành