After more than two years of construction, the Transport Ministry yesterday opened a part of Beltway III in Hanoi, the first overhead expressway in Vietnam. This part of the beltway is 8,912 meters long, running from Mai Dich to the northern area of Linh Dam Lake. The new traffic structure has four lanes for cars with a designed speed of 100 kph, but in practice vehicles are only allowed to run at a maximum of 80 kph. According to the Hanoi Department of Transport’s plan for the entire beltway, this stretch will be for cars only. Total investment in road was VND5,547 billion (US$266.2 million), which was sourced from the ODA through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The construction of the beltway has met required quality and technical standards with Japan’s assistance and has been completed ahead of schedule, the department said.

Speaking at the beltway’s inaugural ceremony yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the new structure will boost the capital’s social and economic development, reduce traffic jams and accidents, and create conditions for the city’s development towards the west and southwest.  

The Transport Ministry is preparing a project to build another part of the beltway to link Mai Dich and Thang Long Bridge. This part will be built in 2014.