Proposal to build a bridge connecting Ben Tre and Tra Vinh with a scale of 3,500 billion VND

Chairman of Tra Vinh Provincial People’s Committee Le Van Han has just submitted a report to the Prime Minister for appraisal and approval of the Pre-feasibility study report of the Co Chien 2 bridge construction project connecting Ben Tre and Tra Vinh.

In the report, the Chairman of Tra Vinh province stated that the construction of a coastal road from Long An to Ca Mau (including a road route through Ben Tre province and Tra Vinh province) is extremely necessary and urgent. to create motivation to promote development, economic restructuring, and stabilize social security of the region, region and Tra Vinh; At the same time, sharing traffic and reducing load on national highways.

According to Resolution No. 41/NQ-CP dated April 1, 2021 and Resolution No. 108/NQ-CP dated July 18, 2023 of the Government, agreeing to borrow ODA and foreign preferential loans for 16 development projects. sustainable adaptation of the Mekong Delta to climate change. On that basis, the People’s Committee of Tra Vinh province proposed a project to build a coastal corridor in Tra Vinh province – borrowing ADB capital. The People’s Committee of Ben Tre province proposed a project to build a coastal road connecting Ben Tre province with Tien Giang and Tra Vinh provinces – borrowing KEXIM capital. However, these two projects are not synchronously connected to each other because they are separated by the Co Chien River, reducing the investment efficiency of the coastal road.

To solve the above problem, the Co Chien 2 bridge item was considered by the People’s Committees of Ben Tre province and Tra Vinh province to be included in the DPO program but could not be implemented due to obstacles to investment laws.

At the same time, Resolution No. 41 of the Government agreed to borrow 02 billion USD from foreign sponsors for Mekong Delta development projects, which is the basis for provinces to deploy transportation networks connecting with the Mekong Delta. both sides of Co Chien 2 bridge to enhance regional connectivity. At the same time, on March 2, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 216 on decentralization and assignment of the People’s Committee of Tra Vinh province to be the managing agency for investment in the Co Chien 2 bridge construction project, connecting Ben Tre province with Tra Vinh province. This is a very important legal basis for Tra Vinh province to continue to complete investment procedures for the project and proceed to start construction.

According to the Chairman of Tra Vinh province, the investment in building Co Chien 2 bridge in the period 2024-2030 is completely consistent with the progress of DPO projects in Ben Tre province and Tra Vinh province, contributing to the connection between the two provinces. Tra Vinh – Ben Tre in particular and coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta in general, gradually improve the traffic network, shorten travel time and distance, contributing to reducing congestion on Highway 60 and the long-term direction is route

The investment project aims to realize the goals of gradually completing the coastal road system according to the planning approved by the Prime Minister, creating motivation for socio-economic development, contributing to ensuring security. national defense of coastal provinces and improve effectiveness in preventing climate change and rising sea levels.

The completed project will make an important contribution to expanding the space towards the sea, developing the marine economy of Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces in particular as well as the Mekong Delta region in general, playing a major role in helping to connect traffic. region, creating advantages for the local tourism industry to develop, promoting marine tourism, economic exchange with big cities, and convenient traffic connections between provinces in the region.

At the same time, the project contributes to the economic development of fisheries, energy, industry, improving the efficiency of marine resources, attracting investment to develop coastal economic zones, and socio-economic development of the province. Sustainable development of the Mekong Delta through strengthening economic transformation towards sustainability and the ability to respond to climate change.