Thanks to a joint funding partnership between the Vietnamese Government, the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as part of the Central Mekong Delta Region Connectivity Project, each day, an estimated 170,000 people will cross the bridge that is designed with four lanes for vehicles; two for pedestrians and bicycles in both directions.
Photo: vietnamnet
The 24.5 meters wide-bridge spans 2.4km across the Tien river, with a further 25.1km of inter-connecting roads. With a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour, it is also equipped with modern safety monitoring and surveillance camera systems.
Australia’s Foreign Minister the Hon Julie Bishop MP said: “In the years ahead, this bridge will be a crucial driver for development. It will better connect the region, supporting economic growth and food security, demonstrating new technical engineering solutions that can be incorporated into future infrastructure projects. Besides, it will support Vietnam in continuing its remarkable economic transformation. And it will stand as an enduring symbol of Australia and Vietnam’s ties, marking our 45th anniversary of relations and the signing of our new strategic partnership.”
Australia’s grant of USD160 million represented its largest aid activity in mainland Southeast Asia and one of its most significant investments in Vietnam since building the My Thuan bridge, which opened in 2000.
Better connectivity will not only reduce travel time and cost for residents of the Mekong Delta provinces of An Giang, Can Tho and Dong Thap, but bring more business opportunities and better living conditions. After over four years of construction, the project will also improve connectivity to the Greater Mekong Sub-region Southern Coastal Corridor, and the Cambodian and Thai highway networks.
Known as the “rice basket” of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta region contributes up to 70% of nation’s agricultural and fisheries exports.
So that, the construction will facilitate trade opportunities for Vietnamese agriculture across the Greater Mekong sub-region, promote private sector investment, support food security and expand access of local people to vital social and health services./.