Vỹ Dạ Bridge Expansion in Huế City Remains Unfinished After Five Years

The Vỹ Dạ Bridge expansion project in Huế City, Vietnam, intended to alleviate chronic traffic jams, remains unfinished five years after its 2021 groundbreaking. The over 109 billion VND (approximately $4.3 million USD) project, managed by the Urban Development Program Project Management Board, was slated for completion by mid-2024 but is now significantly behind schedule.

Recent site inspections reveal a state of neglect. Only eight bridge piers and two abutments have been completed. Three beams have been installed on the piers, but the steel structures are visibly rusted from prolonged exposure. Construction materials are strewn across the site, and a lack of workers is apparent. The unfinished bridge also mars the urban landscape, with incomplete sidewalks near residential areas.

Residents express deep frustration with the ongoing delays. The old Vỹ Dạ Bridge, only 8 meters wide with two lanes, is a daily bottleneck during peak hours. "The old bridge is too narrow, and every day during peak hours in the morning and afternoon, there are long traffic jams, making travel very difficult," said Nguyễn Thị Hòa, a 52-year-old resident. "We have been waiting for the new bridge for years, but for five years, we have only seen unfinished construction, dirty roads, and scattered materials."

In early July, the Sở Tài chính (Department of Finance) announced the termination of the contract with the construction company, Công ty cổ phần 479 Hòa Bình, due to its sluggish progress. The department cited difficulties in land clearance as a primary reason for the extended delays, necessitating a re-tendering process.

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The old bridge is too narrow, and every day during peak hours in the morning and afternoon, there are long traffic jams, making travel very difficult. We have been waiting for the new bridge for years, but for five years, we have only seen unfinished construction, dirty roads, and scattered materials.