Vam Cong Bridge open to traffic in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
Sunday, May 19, 2019, 15:19 GMT+7
The long-awaited Vam Cong Bridge in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta was officially put into operation on Sunday morning.
This is the second bridge that crosses the Hau (Back) River, connecting Lap Vo District in Dong Thap Province and Thot Not District in Can Tho City.
The other structure, Can Tho Bridge, links the namesake city with Vinh Long Province.
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| A ceremony is organized on the morning of May 19, 2019. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Following the inauguration chaired by Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, thousands of local residents lined up to make their first trip across the bridge.
“I arrived here on my bicycle early in the morning and waited until the bridge is officially open. I have been looking forward to this moment,” said Don, a 66-year-old resident from Dong Thap.
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| Residents travel on the Vam Cong Bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Meanwhile, Ngo Thi Thuan, 65, who lives in Can Tho, said she had walked on the bridge at 5:00 am to watch the colors of the sunrise.
“Today is a very special day,” Thuan stated.
According to Minister The, the Vam Cong Bridge is the dream of many people in the Mekong Delta.
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| Local residents witness the inauguration of the bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Residents previously had to pay a fee and spend 30 minutes on a ferry to cross the river, the official said, adding it now takes them only three to five minutes to travel across the bridge.
The structure plays an essential role as it helps boost connectivity throughout the Mekong Delta, Vo Thanh Thong, chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee, said, adding that the bridge will also link the region with other localities in the country.
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| Don, a 66-year-old resident from Dong Thap, rides his bicycle on the bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Stretching over 2.97 kilometers, the Vam Cong Bridge is designed with a total of six lanes, four reserved for automobiles and two for motorcycles.
Construction started in September 2013, with investment totaling US$271 million, which was funded by South Korea’s ODA (official development assistance) and corresponding capital from the Vietnamese government.
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| People take photos on the bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
The construction was first delayed in November 2017 after several fractures were found on the steel girders at the top of several abutments.
The repair work was expected to be finished in 2018 so that the bridge could be put into operation later the same year.
But even the repair faced challenges, forcing contractors to delay its inauguration until this month.
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| A road leading to the Vam Cong Bridge. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
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