As part of the province’s coastal route, the 2.36-kilometre bridge, including its approach roads, connects the two districts of Nghia Hung and Hai Hau, and replaces ferry services over the river.
With four lanes across a width of 12 metres, the Thinh Long Bridge allows a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour while having a high ground clearance of 15 metres to allow the passage of large ships.
The bridge cost a total of VND1.158 trillion (nearly US$50 million), financed by the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund and the Vietnamese government’s counterpart fund.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nam Dinh Chairman Pham Dinh Nghi underlined the bridge’s significance to the province’s road system, helping to improve connections between National Highway 21 and nearby industrial parks.
It will also help reduce traffic on the highway, cut the travel distance from Thinh Long Town to Nam Dinh City by 10 kilometres, and boost local socio-economic development.