Hai Phong (VNA) – A sea bridge that is over5.44km long, part of Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway in the northern port city of HaiPhong, was put into operation on September 2, becoming one of the longest ofits kind in Southeast Asia.
The inaugural ceremony of the highway’s sectionfrom km2 810 to km15 630 was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc,Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio and officials of some ministries andlocalities.
The Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway project also formspart of a project on building infrastructure of Lach Huyen Port, which is setto become the first international transit port in the north of Vietnam.
With the total length of 15.63km, the roadbegins at the intersection with Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and ends at the gateof Lach Huyen Port. It has total investment of nearly 11.85 trillion VND (521.4million USD), including 50.17 billion JPY loaned through Japan’s officialdevelopment assistance and 1.8 billion VND covered by the VietnameseGovernment.
The construction of the sea bridge, named DinhVu-Cat Hai, was completed on schedule, in 36 months.
Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway is expected to cutdown travel time and reduce risks in transport by ferry and barge. It is alsohoped to help boost Hai Phong’s coastal economic development, attract investorsto projects in Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, and promote tourism in theUNESCO-recognised Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve and neighbouring areas.
In his speech, PM Phuc applauded efforts andresponsibility of the Transport Ministry, relevant ministries and sectors,consultancies, supervisors, contractors, engineers and workers of Vietnam andJapan 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 Hanoi,for capital assistance and close coordination in project implementation.
The project has also helped promote thestrategic partnership and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, he added.-VNA