On the bridge connecting the joyful shores

According to the plan, Dai Ngai 2 Bridge (Soc Trang) will be opened for technical traffic on April 30, 2025, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country.

The Dai Ngai 2 Bridge connects the southern end of the Hau River in Long Duc commune (Long Phu district) across the Hau River to Cu Lao Dung district, in Soc Trang province. This bridge has been a long-awaited dream of the local people, allowing them to cross to the northern bank of the Hau River in An Thanh Tay commune, Cu Lao Dung district. Thus, the two banks of the Hau River are about to be connected, narrowing the distance between these two localities.

The Dai Ngai 2 bridge spans the Hau River, connecting Long Phu and Cu Lao Dung districts in Soc Trang province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ky (residing in Long Duc commune, Long Phu district) excitedly said: “Seeing the bridge completed and workers able to cross from one bank to the other comfortably is indescribable joy. This is the bridge we have long dreamed of. We thought it would be difficult to have such a large bridge, but today it has become a reality. With the bridge, crossing is convenient; we can go back and forth anytime, no more relying on ferries and boats.”

An engineer from Truong Son Construction Company (one of the four contractors building the bridge) said that although the weather is harsh these days due to the heat, the contractors are working diligently to complete the tasks so that the bridge surface can be paved with asphalt by the end of April. Despite the hot weather, the workers are still dedicated to the project. Everyone is striving to meet the deadline for technical traffic opening as committed. This is a bridge that the people have dreamed of for generations, so they will do their utmost.

Engineers and workers are urgently completing the final items to allow for technical opening to traffic on April 30, 2025.

On the construction site, the team of workers and engineers are busy with their tasks, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. "During the April 30th and May 1st holidays, we still stayed on the construction site to work, taking turns resting instead of all of us taking time off so that there are always people working," one worker said.

Walking across the Dai Ngai 2 bridge from the south bank of the Hau River to the north bank, we could feel the joy of the people as the bridge was completed and put into use. The bridge is wide and spacious; from the middle of the bridge, looking out into the distance, towards the Tran De estuary, or looking back, seeing the majestic Long Phu 1 thermal power plant standing tall in the vast open space, fills our hearts with excitement. Previously, the only means of transportation from Long Phu to Cu Lao Dung was the ferry, with long waiting times, especially for the Dai Ngai ferry. After the Dai Ngai 2 bridge was built, it only takes a few minutes by car to get across.

According to Mr. Le Dinh Thong (Project Management Board 85, Ministry of Construction ), the Dai Ngai Bridge project has a total investment of nearly 8,000 billion VND. The project has a total length of 15.14 km. The starting point intersects with National Highway 54, in Hung Hoa commune, Tieu Can district (Tra Vinh province), and the end point intersects with the Southern Hau River National Highway, in Long Duc commune, Long Phu district (Soc Trang province). The project includes two main bridge structures: Dai Ngai Bridge 1 and Dai Ngai Bridge 2. Dai Ngai Bridge 1 (and approach roads) is valued at 3,907 billion VND. The bridge is over 3 km long, with the main cable-stayed bridge section crossing the Dinh An channel of the Hau River, 21.5m wide, with two A-shaped towers 110m high, and a main span configuration of 210+450+210m; Dai Ngai Bridge 2 is 862m long, consisting of 13 spans, with a main span structure of 330m long cantilevered.

This is one of the important bridges crossing the Hau River, replacing ferry travel, which was time-consuming and limited the ability to transport goods between provinces. The Dai Ngai 2 Bridge crosses the Hau River, connecting the island district of Cu Lao Dung with the mainland, breaking the isolation of this region due to its proximity to the Hau River. With construction progressing ahead of schedule, the Dai Ngai 2 Bridge was completed on January 5, 2025, six months earlier than planned, and the bridge is scheduled for technical opening on April 30, 2025.

Upon completion, the Dai Ngai Bridge (including Dai Ngai Bridge 1 and Dai Ngai Bridge 2) will, along with the Rach Mieu Bridge, Ham Luong Bridge, and Co Chien Bridge, enhance transportation capacity for the Mekong Delta region; create convenient transportation connections between the southern coastal provinces and Ho Chi Minh City; shorten travel time, reduce transportation costs, expand trade, and break the monopoly of National Highway 1, opening up opportunities for economic development, trade, and tourism in the region...

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Giao-thong/tren-cay-cau-noi-nhip-bo-vui-i766141/