The inaugural ceremony of the highway’s section from km2 810 to km15 630 was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio and officials of some ministries and localities.
The Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway project also forms part of a project on building infrastructure of Lach Huyen Port, which is set to become the first international transit port in the north of Vietnam.
With the total length of 15.63km, the road begins at the intersection with Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and ends at the gate of Lach Huyen Port. It has total investment of nearly VND11.85 trillion (US$521.4 million), including 50.17 billion JPY loaned through Japan’s official development assistance and VND1.8 billion covered by the Vietnamese Government.
The construction of the sea bridge, named Dinh Vu-Cat Hai, was completed on schedule, in 36 months.
Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway is expected to cut down travel time and reduce risks in transport by ferry and barge. It is also hoped to help boost Hai Phong’s coastal economic development, attract investors to projects in Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, and promote tourism in the UNESCO-recognised Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve and neighbouring areas.
In his speech, PM Phuc applauded efforts and responsibility of the Transport Ministry, relevant ministries and sectors, consultancies, supervisors, contractors, engineers and workers of Vietnam and Japan who put the project into operation ahead of schedule.
He also thanked Japanese leaders and people, especially the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Hanoi, for capital assistance and close coordination in project implementation.
The project has also helped promote the strategic partnership and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, he added.
