Two Major Bridges To Span Southern Vietnam's Mekong River

January 29, 2008 10:09 p.m. EST

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (AHN) - Two major bridges spanning the Mekong River in southern Vietnam will be constructed to expand the region's growing economy.

Toll plazas will be built on roads leading to the bridges which will have a combined length of about 4,000 meters, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

The Mekong River Delta is the country's third largest industrial hub with industrial output averaging an annual growth rate of 24 percent in 2004-2005 from 13 percent in 2000-2004.

"Road traffic is growing rapidly in Vietnam, and a key constraint to future economic development is the availability of efficient transport infrastructure with adequate capacity to meet expanding demand," said Peter Broch, transport economist of ADB's Southeast Asia Department.

Highways, railways and ports are being expanded in Vietnam whose gross domestic product rose by an average 8 percent annually between 2003 and 2007. Exports during the same period averaged about 20 percent.

The Japan Special Fund will provide an $800,000 grant that will be managed by the ADB. A counterpart $200,000 funding will come from Vietnam.