VietNamNet Bridge - After being renovated at a cost of VND20.3 billion ($1 million), the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge that has spanned the Han River for nearly half of a century will become the first bridge for pedestrians in the biggest city in Vietnam’s central region.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Transport cum chief of the Transportation and Public Work Investment and Construction Management Board -- Le Van Trung, said the city had agreed to upgrade Nguyen Van Troi Bridge with a total budget of VND20.3 billion. The bridge will be renovated from August to October to serve pedestrians.

"This is the first bridge for pedestrians in Da Nang and it is expected to contribute to the development of the city’s tourism," Trung said.

According to the original plan, after Tran Thi Ly Bridge was inaugurated on March 29, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge would be dismantled. However, in early February 2012, Da Nang City Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Ba Thanh directed the Department of Transportation to keep this bridge to serve the pedestrians and tourists. The bridge will be a destination for tourists to watch the Han River.

In late 2012, the Da Nang Council of Architecture - Planning approved the plan to build a bridge for the pedestrian in the shape of a scallop, with an investment of $35 million.

Nguyen Van Troi Bridge was built in 1965, linking the west coast and east coast of Da Nang and it is the first bridge across the Han River. The bridge was designed and built by RMK (USA). This is a rare bridge with the Poni steel truss arches in Vietnam, which was built to serve the Vietnam War.

The bridge is more than 500m long, 10.5 m wide, without the sidewalks for pedestrians. It was repaired in 1978 and 1996. The bridge was named after Hero Nguyen Van Troi after the country’s liberation in 1975.

Xuan Hai