The Hanoi government has decided to form an expert team led by Do Viet Hai, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, to implement the Long Bien Bridge  rehabilitation project financed by the French government.

The team is in charge of collaborating with the French Embassy in Vietnam to find ways to study the renovation of the bridge and detail the project so that the department can report the results to the municipal government, complete procedures to execute the project and deploy it in line with regulations on the management of official development assistance loans and other relevant laws.

The Long Bien bridge crossing the Red River sits on one of three key routes of the railway industry — Hanoi-Dong Dang, Lang Son-Hanoi-Haiphong and Hanoi-Lao Cai. Each day, tens of thousands of vehicles, trains, motorcycles and bicycles use the bridge, leading to its deterioration.

The pedestrian lane on the bridge shows signs of falling into decay, so it is urgent to repair and renovate it to ensure the safety of vehicles and residents, the local media reported.

Competent forces have erected barriers on the two sides of a road leading to the bridge to prevent vehicles transporting voluminous items and overweight trucks from using the bridge.

Source: Saigon Times