Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new Phong Chau bridge on National Highway 32C. (Photo: VNA)

The project was invested under an emergency construction order, following the collapse of the old Phong Chau bridge on September 9, 2024 due to impact of typhoon Yagi.

At the ceremony, PM Chinh and other delegates observed a minute of silence in memory of people who lost their lives in the tragic collapse.

In his remarks, the Government leader stated that the new work is a bridge of connection between the people and the Party and the State; between human beings and between the people and the heroic Viet Nam People’s Army. It heals wounds and rekindles trust and happiness, while binding together ministries, sectors, agencies, localities, and the people, he noted.

The PM affirmed that the decision to assign the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of National Defence, and Phu Tho province to invest in the new Phong Chau bridge under an emergency construction order was a correct decision, suitable to reality. There was close coordination, joint effort, and consensus among ministries, agencies, units, and local authorities, fulfilling the task entrusted by the Party and the State. The project was completed ahead of schedule, ensuring quality, safety, and saving time and costs, he said.

Issuing the order to inaugurate the bridge, the PM requested ministries, agencies, units, and Phu Tho to urgently complete the remaining workload, conduct settlement and handover of the project in accordance with the law, organise effective operation and exploitation of the project, worthy of the trust of the Party, the State, and the expectations and aspirations of the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates unveil the plaque designating the bridge as a work to welcome the 12th Congress of the Viet Nam People's Army Party Organisation and the first Congress of the Phu Tho provincial Party Organisation. (Photo: VNA)

The project has an estimated total investment of over 635.39 billion VND (24.05 million USD) from the central budget, with Thang Long project management board as the investor and Truong Son Construction Corporation as construction contractor. The building of the 383-metre bridge started on December 21, 2024. The new bridge and its approach road have a total length of about 652 metres and width of 20.5 metres, with four lanes for motor vehicles, located on National Highway 32C crossing the Red River in Phu Tho.

Up to now, the project has been completed within about nine months, three months ahead of schedule. Notably, the total construction cost of the bridge is estimated at about more than 438.79 billion VND, saving over 196 billion VND compared to the initial total investment.