Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai (M) yesterday broke ground on the construction of Bach Dang Bridge and its connecting road. - Photo VNA

The bridge will link the Ha Long-Hai Phong Highway to the Ha Noi-Hai Phong Highway.

It will stretch over the Bach Dang River and cost VND7.6 trillion (more than US$357.2 million) under the build-operate-transfer model.

Quang Ninh Province People’s Committee is the project’s main investor, and it will be built by Japanese group SE in co-ordination with the Bach Dang Bridge BOT Joint Stock Company and other local subcontractors.

The bridge will be over three kilometres long and 25 metres wide, with four lanes allowing speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The bridge links the Ha Long-Hai Phong Highway to the Ha Noi-Hai Phong Highway.

The bridge is one of the two main components of the Ha Long-Hai Phong Highway project. The other component, the 19.5km highway, broke ground in September 2014. The entire project is expected to be complete in 2016.

Once completed, it will contribute to completing a route connecting the key northern economic triangle, Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh. The project is also expected to increase investment in Quang Ninh, contributing to socio-economic development.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy PM Hai praised the efforts made by the Party, Government and people of Quang Ninh to clear hurdles for this project.

He asked investors to co-ordinate closely with Quang Ninh and Hai Phong authorities to accelerate construction and ensure the quality and efficiency of the work.

The Ha Long-Hai Phong Highway will reduce the distance from Quang Ninh to Ha Noi from 180km to about 130km, and make it easier for tours from the northern region to visit Ha Long Bay.