VietNamNet Bridge – Construction of a 12km road linking the Noi Bai International Airport to Nhat Tan Bridge in Dong Anh district, Hanoi, began on August 1.

The road with high technical standards is expected to improve the traffic from central Hanoi to the airport and contribute to economic growth in Hanoi and northern Vietnam.

The project will include five installation and construction contract packages. The first package will cover more than 1.5km and last 30 months. The project is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Under an agreement signed between the Vietnamese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the latter pledged to provide over JPY 6.5 trillion (US$83 million) for the project. JICA said it will provide next loans based one the progress of the project.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai thanked the Japanese government for continuing to give Vietnam ODA, while Japan is still confronted with many difficulties caused by the March earthquake and tsunami.

Once the road is completed, the distance between the airport and central Hanoi will be shortened to only 15km, including 12km of road and 3km of Nhat Tan Bridge.

PV