Ho Chi Minh City is about to spend 512 billion VND to build Rach Dia bridge connecting Nha Be with District 7.

Ho Chi Minh City - The project to build a new Rach Dia bridge to replace the iron bridge on Le Van Luong Street (connecting Nha Be District and District 7) is nearly 318 m long, with a total investment of more than 512 billion VND, and is expected to start construction in June this year and be completed by the end of 2024.

The new Rach Dia Bridge is about to be built to replace the degraded iron bridge. Photo: Minh Quan

The above information was given by Mr. Luong Minh Phuc - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor) at the project supervision meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee leaders on May 23.

According to Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, the Rach Dia bridge project was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee in 2001 and was approved for adjustment in September 2017 to replace the existing degraded iron bridge, with a narrow bridge surface of only 3m - 3.5m, causing difficulties for people to travel.

The new bridge is nearly 318 m long (including the bridge and approach road of about 233 m), more than 10 m wide with a total investment of more than 512 billion VND.

Rach Dia Bridge is currently in a state of disrepair and authorities have had to put up signs prohibiting gatherings. Photo: Minh Quan

Mr. Luong Minh Phuc said that the Traffic Department has transferred all compensation costs according to the approved budget to District 7 and Nha Be District. Up to now, 41/50 cases in District 7 and 28/45 cases in Nha Be District have agreed to receive compensation and hand over the site.

The Traffic Committee proposed that the People's Committee of District 7 and Nha Be District speed up the completion of compensation payments to the remaining households and organizations affected by the project, and hand over the site to start the project in June. The new Rach Dia Bridge will be constructed in 18 months and completed by the end of 2024.

Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai (second from right) supervises the Long Kieng bridge project. Photo: Minh Quan

At the monitoring session, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai requested the People's Committee of District 7, Nha Be District and the Traffic Department to sign a coordination agreement to implement the Rach Dia Bridge project on schedule. At the same time, continue to mobilize people affected by the project to hand over the site to the investor.

“The coordination between the board and the departments and localities is the key factor in deciding whether the project is fast or slow. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a monitoring team to grasp the situation and call to resolve any problems immediately. Therefore, the units check the progress weekly and monthly,” Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai emphasized.

Rach Dia Bridge is one of four iron bridges (Long Kieng, Rach Tom, Rach Doi) on Le Van Luong Street that pose a potential risk of accidents due to its age and deterioration.

After the collapse of Long Kieng iron bridge in early 2018, the new Long Kieng bridge, nearly 1 km long (including bridge and approach road), with a total investment of 589 billion VND, started construction in October 2018 and is expected to be completed next September.

For Rach Tom and Rach Doi iron bridges, they are currently degraded but have not been allocated capital to build a new replacement bridge.

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