On the morning of September 9, Hanoi People’s Committee Vice Chairman Bui Duy Cuong inspected construction sites for the Tu Lien, Tran Hung Dao and Ngoc Hoi bridges and their approach roads.

Construction accelerates across the projects

The Tu Lien Bridge project and its approach roads have completed land clearance across the entire 62.51 hectares required, reaching 100%. Local authorities are continuing to relocate technical infrastructure and demolish the remaining structures.

The contractor consortium is currently working at 15 locations along the route. On the main bridge, contractors have completed four of the 37 segments making up the towers at piers P37 and P38.

So far, completed work is valued at approximately $69.8 million out of a total contract value of around $356.7 million, equivalent to 19.57%. By the end of 2026, that figure is expected to reach approximately $142.4 million, or 40% of the contract.

For the Ngoc Hoi Bridge and its approach roads, Hanoi has handed over the entire 32.6 hectares of required land. Neighboring Hung Yen Province has handed over 22.13 of 22.66 hectares, or 97.6%.

The remaining 0.53 hectares involve 23 residential land cases and the relocation of several technical infrastructure facilities. The project management board said the remaining land is expected to be handed over in September 2026.

By the end of 2026, completed work on the project is expected to reach approximately $97.5 million, equivalent to 35% of the contract value. The target is to complete all bored piles and pile caps for the main bridge, along with 65% of the pile caps and 50% of the piers for the approach bridges.

Tran Hung Dao Bridge reaches nearly 34% completion by value

Land clearance for the Tran Hung Dao Bridge project has been largely completed, with the full 31.05 hectares handed over. Hong Ha and Bo De wards are continuing to relocate technical infrastructure.

The investor has mobilized construction teams at 28 locations along the route. Contractors have completed all 128 bored piles for the main bridge. On the Long Bien approach bridge, 229 of 244 bored piles have been completed, while the Co Linh interchange branch bridge has reached 260 of 284 bored piles and 405 of 445 D800 piles.

All seven pile caps for the main bridge have been completed. On the Long Bien approach bridge, 23 of 30 abutment and pier pile caps and 23 of 30 abutment and pier structures have been completed. Work on the flexible piers has reached 60 of 264, while the main piers have risen to heights ranging from 13.88 to 18.8 meters.

Steel girders for five of the six spans are being fabricated at factories, while five of the 52 girder segments for the Long Bien approach bridge have been cast on site.

At the Hoan Kiem interchange approach bridge, contractors have completed 158 of 207 bored piles, nine of 40 pile caps and four of 40 pier structures.

Construction output has reached approximately $93 million out of the roughly $275.8 million contract value, equivalent to 33.72%, an increase of about $2.4 million from the previous reporting period. Progress on the main bridge and approach bridges is broadly on track to meet the target of completion before APEC 2027.

However, the Tran Hung Dao interchange branch bridge is behind schedule because of issues involving regulations on dike safety. Relevant agencies are working to resolve the obstacles and accelerate construction.

The project management board has asked Hong Ha Ward to complete the relocation of underground and above-ground technical infrastructure by September 20. Bo De Ward has also been asked to hand over technical infrastructure within the Co Linh-Hong Tien interchange area by the same deadline so construction can proceed.

Hanoi warns against letting one contractor delay an entire project

Following the site inspections, Hanoi People’s Committee Vice Chairman Bui Duy Cuong said projects involving multiple contractors must be managed flexibly to make the best use of each contractor’s capabilities. If one contractor encounters difficulties or fails to keep pace, the investor must be prepared to reassign part of its workload to another contractor capable of carrying it out.

“Do not allow one contractor to become the bottleneck for an entire project,” the city official said, calling on contractors to coordinate, share responsibilities and compete on progress to ensure the projects are completed as planned.

For Tran Hung Dao Bridge in particular, Bui Duy Cuong stressed that construction of the bridge and its approach roads must proceed in sync. If the bridge is completed while the approach roads fall behind, the project’s ability to enter operation will be affected.

The Hanoi vice chairman also ordered a thorough review of proposed changes. Any proposal that alters project plans or increases costs must be justified, checked against tender documents and assessed for its necessity and effectiveness to prevent unreasonable additional expenses.

Proposals to shorten construction schedules must quantify both the time saved and any potential reduction in public spending. The projects have also been instructed to prioritize domestic resources and closely assess contractors’ production and supply capabilities to ensure shortages of materials or equipment do not delay construction.

Thanh Hue