The $400 Billion Bridge: Why is it Still Unused After a Year?

The Ha Bac 2 Bridge construction project, along with the road leading to Bac Giang province, has been completed by the Project Management Unit for Transport and Agricultural Construction Investments of Bac Giang province. The project aimed to connect Viet Yen and Hiep Hoa districts in Bac Giang with Yen Phong district in Bac Ninh, boosting socio-economic development in the region.

With a total investment of over VND 358 billion from the central and provincial budgets, the project was implemented during the 2021-2024 period. The bridge section is 490 meters long and 16 meters wide, designed with prestressed concrete and reinforced concrete. The road section is over 1,500 meters long, built to plain III road standards, with a 12-meter-wide foundation and an 11-meter-wide concrete asphalt surface on a graded crushed stone base.

Currently, the road and bridge sections on the Bac Giang side have been completed, while the road section on the Bac Ninh side is still under construction, as directed by the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee to expedite progress. As a result, the Bac Giang side of the bridge is temporarily blocked by barriers.

Explaining this issue, Mr. Nguyen Viet Hoang, Deputy Head of the Bac Ninh Urban Development Management Board, said that the 277B road section connecting to the Ha Bac 2 Bridge was started in October 2023. So far, the Yen Phong District People’s Committee has handed over 3.2 kilometers of road surface out of the total 5-kilometer route to the investor. With the handed-over road surface, the investor has basically completed the construction of the road foundation and asphalt surface.

“Regarding the remaining problematic road section adjacent to the Ha Bac 2 Bridge, in Tam Da commune, Yen Phong district, we have faced significant challenges in site clearance. Since most of the local residents work away from home, there have been difficulties in identifying the landowners. Moreover, the fields in this area have been consolidated, but the legal procedures are not yet complete, causing complications in determining land origins,” said Mr. Hoang.

Mr. Hoang added that with the strong direction of the Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee and the proactive participation of authorities at all levels, these difficulties have been basically resolved. The Yen Phong District People’s Committee is expected to hand over the remaining site clearance to the investor before September 15.

“With this progress, we are determined to direct the contractor to strive to ensure that the road is open to traffic before the Lunar New Year. This will promote connectivity between Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, facilitating trade and economic development,” affirmed Mr. Hoang.

Mr. Nguyen The Luy, Head of Thiem Xuyen Village, Thuy Hoa Commune, Yen Phong District, Bac Ninh Province, said that after receiving the decisions of the Yen Phong District Land Clearance Committee, the village has actively propagated and mobilized the people. The villagers highly understand and support the government’s policy to build a provincial road through the area.

“The villagers are very supportive, and we have achieved almost 100% of the land clearance. Only about seven households have minor issues regarding the area and procedures. As this road is a vital route connecting Bac Ninh and Bac Giang and linking to industrial clusters, the people are very pleased and looking forward to its completion,” said Mr. Luy.

Mr. Nguyen The Thinh, a resident of Thiem Xuyen Village, shared that his family had eight fields, with a total area of 230 square meters, and received compensation of VND 158 million per field. They fully agreed with the land retrieval for the construction of the road to promote socio-economic development in the province.

“With the compensation money, my family invested in livestock breeding and deposited the rest in the bank to increase income and improve our lives,” said Mr. Thinh.

Mr. Nguyen Nhan Cuong, Head of the Bac Ninh Urban Development Management Board, said that the Board had regularly reported and focused on resolving difficulties and obstacles in site clearance. They also received attention and timely direction from the Provincial Party Committee and authorities at all levels.

“To ensure the project’s progress, we request the Department of Transport to promptly appraise the adjusted pre-feasibility study report so that the investor can organize the implementation of the next steps, ensuring the construction of the adjusted project starts in November 2024,” emphasized Mr. Cuong.

The project to build the 277B provincial road connecting to the Ha Bac 2 Bridge aims to address traffic congestion and reduce accidents, contributing to socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security. Additionally, it will ease congestion at the gateway to Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, attracting investment and serving the needs of the numerous industrial parks in the area.