The Hanoi Four-Link Bridge Project: Suburban Construction Thrives, While Inner City Remains Dormant

Recent observations by Tien Phong reporters indicate that due to the urgency of the Tu Lien Bridge project, the six participating contractors have mobilized their resources and machinery to the construction site to meet the completion deadline as per the government’s requirements.

Twenty days after the groundbreaking ceremony, the contractors have deployed their machinery and personnel across the entire project site in Dong Anh district, covering the 2-km access road and the intersection with Hoang Sa Street (the endpoint).

On-site, the contractors are working on the road section, including land leveling and foundation compaction. As of June 9, the construction units have formed a 2-km-long road stretch, extending from the intersection with Hoang Sa Street to near the Duong River bank.

The section from Truong Sa Street to the National Exhibition Center (in Dong Hoi, Dong Anh district) now boasts a nearly 1-km-long paved road. This paved section allows two-way traffic for construction trucks and official vehicles.

“Across the over-2-km-long project site in Dong Anh district, one can find machinery and workers at almost every construction yard. Additionally, a site near Lai Da Pumping Station (in Dong Hoi, Dong Anh district) has become a hub for construction machinery and equipment, with hundreds of trucks, bulldozers, road rollers, and cranes ready for deployment,” shared a representative from the Project Management Unit (PMU) for Transport Infrastructure Construction Projects in Hanoi (the Transport Department – Investor).

Regarding the river-crossing component of the project, observations show that several barges are being utilized for geological drilling in both the Red River and Duong River. The investor revealed that the contractors are conducting geological drilling to build the main river-crossing bridge piers, a task performed day and night.

Land clearance affecting 701 households

In contrast to the bustling construction activity in Dong Anh district and on the rivers, the project site in Tay Ho district (inner city) remains largely untouched.

On the morning of June 9, Tien Phong reporters observed that the entire 2-km-long access road to the Tu Lien Bridge (from Nghi Tam Street to the Red River bank) and the intersection with Nghi Tam Street were yet to witness any construction activity. The entire stretch of the project site through the wards of Quang An, Yen Phu, and Tu Lien (Tay Ho district) still comprises residential buildings, constructed structures, and cultivated land along the riverbank.

According to the Hanoi Transport Department, to expedite progress and enhance the accountability of specific agencies and units, the Tu Lien Bridge construction project and its associated roads have been divided into four component projects. Apart from the Tu Lien Bridge construction component project, there are three other component projects related to land clearance.

Consequently, each of the three districts through which the project passes, namely Tay Ho, Long Bien, and Dong Anh, acts as the investor for a component project concerning land clearance within their respective jurisdictions.

According to surveys and statistics, 701 households require land clearance for the Tu Lien Bridge construction. Among these, 412 cases involve residential land, 280 cases involve agricultural land, and the rest involve land belonging to organizations or public land. Approximately 257 households will need to be resettled in new accommodations.

Assessing the land clearance progress in the respective districts, the Hanoi Transport Department representative shared that the project site in Dong Anh district has achieved over 90% clearance, providing a substantial area for comprehensive construction. Regarding the Tay Ho and Long Bien districts, the land survey and inventory processes have been completed.

Concerning the relocation and resettlement of affected households, the Transport Department noted that Tay Ho district has the highest number of people requiring relocation.

“The city has agreed to allocate resettlement housing in Dong Anh district for households displaced by the project. The investor is coordinating with the People’s Committees of Long Bien and Tay Ho districts to facilitate the provision of resettlement areas. Once this is accomplished, the affected households within the land clearance scope will be relocated,” the Transport Department representative added.