Investing nearly VND300 billion into maintaining Long Bien bridge

With an investment of nearly VND300 billion from the state budget, Long Bien bridge will be upgraded this year to ensure safety for people and vehicles.

Long Bien bridge is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River that connects two districts, Hoan Kiem and Long Bien of the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was originally called Paul Doumer Bridge.  It was constructed between 1899 and 1902 while France occupied Vietnam. It was the first steel bridge built across the Red River in Hanoi, and one of four greatest bridges in the world at that time.

The bridge has put into operation more than 110 years so it was heavily damaged, which can cause to safety of railways and traffic on the bridge according to the Vietnam Railways Corporation. 

The Ministry of Transport assigned the Vietnam Railways Corporation to appraise and approved a project on the preservation of the bridge in the first phrase with an investment of nearly VND298 billion. Accordingly, the bridge will be upgraded to ensure safety and sever railway transport until 2020.

Long Bien is a daily reminder of an unforgettable past. It was used to transport weapons and goods from the north to the centre of Vietnam during the battle against the French. It was bombed many times by the US between 1967 and 1972. As a result, seven of 19 spans and four large pillars were destroyed.

Source: Cinet