The Swing Bridge over Han River in Da Nang City. The central city plans to build a 800-metre tunnel through the Han River to ease traffic congestion at junctions in Son Tra and Hai Chau districts. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Le Lam

DA NANG (Biz Hub) — The central city plans to build a tunnel through the Han River to ease traffic congestion at junctions in Son Tra and Hai Chau districts.

The director of the city's transport department Le Van Trung said the tunnel is needed due to the increasing demands of transport vehicles and architecture planning in the city.

According to Bridge&Tunnel Consultants (BRITEC), who was assigned to develop some key tunnels in Viet Nam by the transport ministry, the 6-lane tunnel in Da Nang will help reduce traffic jams, while not destroying the architecture of the Han River.

As scheduled, the 800m tunnel, which will be the first traffic route under the Han River, will be built with an investment capital of VND3.3 trillion (US$157 million), of which VND3.1 trillion is for construction of the tunnel section.

Chairman of the city's People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho said the tunnel is not the only solution to ease traffic overload, but it's a measure for the city's future.

He said the project must ensure the architecture, utility, safe condition of commuters as well as protect the river's banks and space.

The city also plans to build a bridge over the Han River to reduce traffic on the overloaded Han Swing Bridge.

Currently, Da Nang has built six major bridges including Thuan Phuoc, the Han Swing Bridge, Rong (Dragon), Tran Thi Ly, Tuyen Son and Nguyen Tri Phuong, and an old 1960s-built Nguyen Van Troi Bridge.

Da Nang, which has operated the Hai Van road tunnel on national Highway No 1 since 2003, also plans to build another tunnel route.

Last month, the city approved the construction of a flyover bridge at Dien Bien Phu-Nguyen Tri Phuong junction, one of the busiest roundabouts in the city.

Last year, the city put into operation a three-level rail and road flyover at Hue Junction to alleviate congestion.

In 2013, the city's Rong (Dragon) Bridge, spanning the Han River, claimed the American Council of Engineering Companies' Diamond Award in the category for structural systems.

Da Nang has invested much in urban development to make it the largest city in the central region and a ‘green city' by 2025 with funds from the World Bank

In 2013, the WB agreed to provide $202 million for a $272-million sustainable development project to help improve the city's Bus Rapid Transit network, build new roads, and revamp the existing drainage system.

The WB also funded a five-year priority infrastructure project by covering 70 per cent of the total investment of $218.4 million in 2008 to 2013. — VNS