Vietnam's highest steel arch bridge opens to traffic one month before opening

The nearly 2,000 billion VND Phat Tich Bridge across the Duong River, with a design of 5 steel arches from the water surface to the 87 m high peak, bearing the image of a dragon, is expected to open to traffic at the end of June.

Phat Tich - Dai Dong Thanh Bridge across Duong River, connecting Tien Du and Thuan Thanh districts, started construction in 2018. This is a key project of Bac Ninh province with a length of more than 1.5 km, total investment of 1,927 billion VND.

The bridge has an architecture with 5 load-bearing arches bearing the image of a pair of Ly dynasty dragons, the dragon body curls in an S shape, in the middle of the arch is a pair of dragon heads raised high, symmetrical to each other over a pearl, symbolizing the moon and the sun. Each dragon body has 12 fins symbolizing 12 months of favorable weather in a year.

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After nearly 5 years of construction, the bridge is expected to open to traffic at the end of June.

According to the design, the bridge body is made of reinforced concrete, combined with a steel arch and a suspension cable system on the bridge deck; the bridge cross-section is 22.5 m wide, designed with 4 car lanes, 2 m sidewalks on each side, the main bridge is 440 m long, the northern approach bridge is more than 623 m long, the southern one is more than 173 m long.

Since March, the bridge has completed the installation of 5 steel arch spans. This is the item with the most complex and difficult construction techniques and methods of the project.

From the water surface to the top of the arch is about 87 m high, the highest in Vietnam. To construct the steel arch span, the contractor had to mobilize an 800-ton crane from the South to travel about a month by waterway.

Workers are stretching cables. To ensure progress, about 20 workers are working continuously on the construction site.

Inside the bridge's belly, where the cables are fixed, workers have to work in a poorly lit environment.

The bridge railing is under construction. In addition, the contractor will stretch cables, lay asphalt concrete on the bridge deck, install railing mounds and handrails; construct expansion joints, lighting and lightning protection systems.

Currently, the bridge has completed more than 90% of the work.

Waterway traffic is bustling under the bridge. The Duong River is a waterway connecting three major localities in the North: Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh. This is the 6th bridge across the Duong River, after Duong, Dong Tru, Phu Dong, Binh Than and Ho bridges.

From Phat Tich bridge, people can visit many scenic spots of Bac Ninh such as Kinh Duong Vuong tomb and Phat Tich pagoda.

Currently, the access road on Tien Du district side has been completed. While Thuan Thanh district side is waiting for asphalt paving.

When open to traffic, Phat Tich bridge will form a closed traffic network between the North Duong and South Duong areas of Bac Ninh province; helping to connect with the Red River Delta provinces and neighboring areas such as: Hanoi, Bac Giang , Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Hai Duong via national highways: 1, 5, 17, 38 and provincial roads 276, 287...