Thịnh Long Bridge, crossing Ninh Cơ River, was officially opened to public on Thursday in the coastal northern province of Nam Định. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Đạt

NAM ĐỊNH — A new bridge crossing the Ninh Cơ River in the northern province of Nam Định has opened to the public.

Thịnh Long Bridge is 2.3km long and cost more than VNĐ1.15 trillion (US$49.5 million) to build.

The bridge will reduce travelling time for commuters and cut 10km off the journey between Thịnh Long Town and Nam Định City.

The opening ceremony of the bridge was co-held by the Ministry of Transport and the provincial People’s Committee on Thursday.

Dương Viết Roãn, director of Thăng Long Project Management Board, said it will connect Nghĩa Hưng and Hải Hậu districts in the province.

The four lane construction is 12m wide and vehicles will be able to travel 80km per hour, he said.

The bridge was built with money from the Korea Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF) and Vietnamese Government’s reciprocal capital. Construction began in September, 2017.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Ngọc Đông said the ministry appreciated the investor’s efforts to finish the construction on time despite many problems.

Difficulties included complicated geological structure, impacts from storms and floods during the building process not to mention the fact that the investor had to ensure the smooth waterway traffic for vessels on Ninh Cơ River during the building process, he said.

Đông also added the bridge would mean local people can now have a more convenient commute, as they no longer have to travel by ferry which took a long time.

Also at the ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Phạm Đình Nghị said the bridge played an important role to the local transport infrastructure.

It is located near many arterial roads, such as National Highway No 21, National Highway No 21B, provincial No 490 and the road connecting the local marine economic zone with Cầu Giẽ - Ninh Bình Expressway, he said.

The bridge’s operation not only helped connect the province with other nearby regions but also created many opportunities for industrial, commercial and service development in the province’s marine economic zone, he said. — VNS