The highly-anticipated Rach Dia Bridge, which connects District 7 and Nha Be District in Ho Chi Minh City, opened to traffic on Thursday morning, helping to ease traffic congestion in the city’s southern part.

The opening of the bridge took place one month ahead of schedule.

The new bridge is a replacement for the deteriorating 50-year-old Rach Dia steel bridge and is expected to help improve the city's traffic infrastructure as well as enhance its socio-economic growth.

Construction on the bridge started in July last year. It cost VND512 billion (US$20.2 million), VND290 billion ($11.4 million) of which was used for compensation and resettlement for four organizations and 92 households affected by the project.

Situated on Le Van Luong Street, the new bridge is 318 meters long and 10 meters wide.

The bridge helps shorten travel time between Nha Be District and District 7 as commuters will not have to pass through the often-congested Nguyen Van Linh-Nguyen Huu Tho intersection.

According to 48-year-old resident Doan Thi Phuong Tam, the old Rach Dia Bridge was quite narrow, leading to traffic jams.

“Regular traffic jams caused inconvenience for commuters and noise for households near the bridge,” she said.

Tam also expressed her pleasure at the opening of the new bridge, saying, “Other locals and I eagerly anticipated the inauguration of the bridge.”

The new Rach Dia Bridge, along with the Long Kieng Bridge in Nha Be District -- which opened in September 2023 -- and the upcoming Rach Tom and Rach Doi Bridges set to open in 2025, will enhance traffic connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Long An Province, according to Luong Minh Phuc, director of the Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City.

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