A bridge funded by the Australian government is slated to be open to traffic this weekend in Dong Thap Province, located in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.

People will be able to travel on the Cao Lanh Bridge, which spans over the Tien (Front) River to connect the provincial capital of Cao Lanh with Lap Vo District, from Sunday.

An inauguration ceremony will be held in the morning and vehicles will be allowed to enter the bridge at 3:00 pm. The structure will also be lit up with colorful lights at night.

The bridge is designed with four lanes for vehicles in both directions, measuring two kilometers long and 24.5 meters wide.

Local residents take a photo with the new bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre

It is equipped with modern safety monitoring and surveillance camera systems.

The construction started in late 2013 with an investment of about $160 million, funded by non-refundable aid from the Australian government, besides Vietnam’s government budget.

It is considered the symbol of the friendship between the two nations, representing Australia’s support for infrastructure development and improvement of living standards for residents in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, Governor-General Peter Cosgrove said during his meeting with State President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on Thursday.

Workers add asphalt to the road leading to the bridge in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Workers are now adding asphalt to a 600 meter long street leading to the bridge as well as planting trees along the path.

Thanks to the new bridge, local residents will no longer worry about the difficulties they have previously faced when catching a ferry across the river.

Finishing touches on the new structure. Photo: Tuoi Tre

“Local commuters no longer have to wait for hours at the Cao Lanh Ferry Station,” said Pham Vinh Hao, a 60-year-old resident in Cao Lanh.

Journeys between Ho Chi Minh City and some provinces in the Mekong Delta will also be shortened.

Aside from the Cao Lanh Bridge, Australia previously offered non-refundable aid to help Vietnam build the My Thuan Bridge, connecting Tien Giang and Vinh Long Provinces in the region.

Engineers examine the construction. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A test run is carried out on the new bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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