The Mega Infrastructure Projects Connecting Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh: A Progress Update

Three key investment projects connecting Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh are currently underway: Ben Moi Bridge, the Day River crossing bridge, and the road axis developing the coastal economic region of Nam Dinh, connecting to the Cau Gie-Ninh Binh Expressway (phase 2). These projects are vital in linking the two provinces and boosting their economic growth.

Ben Moi Bridge Project

With a total length of 3.21 km, including a 0.648 km bridge and a 2.562 km approach road, the Ben Moi Bridge project commenced in May 2022 and is expected to be completed by May 2024. Spanning the Day River on National Highway 38B, it connects Yi Yen district in Nam Dinh province and Hoa Lu district in Ninh Binh province.

As the largest bridge among the six bridges under the project for renovating weak bridges and building connecting bridges on national highways (phase 1), the Ben Moi Bridge, with a total investment of VND 1,498 billion, is managed by the Ministry of Transport. At present, the bridge construction has been completed, and the approach road on the Nam Dinh side has made progress with 250 meters of the Quy Du canal constructed, along with all four concrete box culverts in place.

Regarding the approach road, the K98 branch N1 and N2 have been completed, and the stone grading layers are being constructed. Additionally, work on reinforcing and casting the dike’s blocks has commenced. The entire project is expected to be finished and open to traffic by October 2024.

Day River Crossing Bridge Project

The Day River crossing bridge project, part of the Ninh Binh-Nam Dinh-Thai Binh-Hai Phong expressway, began in August 2023. With a total length of approximately 2 km and a four-lane design, the bridge has a speed limit of 100 km/h. The bridge section is about 1.36 km long, while the approach road is about 0.64 km long.

Consisting of 29 spans, the bridge features a main bridge with three continuous spans of prestressed concrete box girders, balanced cantilever construction, and a configuration of (80+130+80)m. The bridge over the right dike of the Day River in Ninh Binh comprises three continuous spans of prestressed concrete box girders with a configuration of (46+70+46)m. The remaining spans utilize Super T girders made of prestressed concrete.

Land clearance for the project is almost complete, with only the relocation of a 0.4 kV power line in Ninh Binh remaining. The provincial People’s Committees of Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh have issued decisions on land allocation for the project. The project has reached approximately 70% completion. All piles for the two main river pillars (T12 and T13) have been completed, and the K0 blocks for both pillars have been constructed. The casting yard and load testing are also nearing completion, with the K1 block of pillar T12 already cast. The main bridge is expected to be joined in November 2024.

For the two main pillars on the dike (T7 and T8), the prestressed concrete box girder for pillar T8 has been cantilevered, and the span has been joined with pillar T9. Pillar T7’s K0 block has also been completed. Six out of eight Super T girders have been installed on the Ninh Binh side, while 10 out of 15 have been installed on the Nam Dinh side. Excavation and soft ground treatment have been completed for the approach roads on both sides, and backfilling and loading are underway. Work on drainage and protective structures is also in progress.

Connecting the Coastal Economic Region of Nam Dinh to the Cau Gie-Ninh Binh Expressway

With a total investment of over VND 5,326 billion, this project is divided into two phases: phase 1 with an investment of VND 2,839 billion and phase 2 with VND 2,487.5 billion. The funding sources include central and local budgets, as well as other legal sources.

The 46 km long project passes through 16 communes in Yi Yen and Nghia Hung districts, with 10 km in Yi Yen and 36 km in Nghia Hung. Currently, phase 2 of the project is being implemented, with construction starting in April 2022, and site clearance completed for 12.6 out of 12.6 km.

The overall project has achieved approximately 75% completion. Package 1 has reached about 839.27/1,099.65 billion VND (76.32% completion). Concrete asphalt layers of C19 and C12.5 have been completed for 11/14.35 km. Regarding the Dong Cao Bridge, 12 out of 14 spans have been installed, with 12 out of 14 deck slabs completed. Additionally, 16 out of 16 pillars and two abutments have been constructed, and the cantilever casting for K7/11 pillar T9 and K5/11 pillar T8 has been finished, with the joining expected in September 2024.

For Package 2, the completion rate is approximately 434/617.98 billion VND (70.2%). The entire road foundation, drainage, curbs, and concrete asphalt layers of R25 and C19 have been completed for 30/30 km. The C12.5 concrete asphalt surface layer has been laid for 22.2/30 km, and the 3 cm thick concrete asphalt roughening layer has been constructed for 11.75/30 km.