Tran Van Tuy, deputy director of the Railway Project Management Board, said that Hanoi’s famous bridge will be restored to serve urban traffic and visitors in 2013.

Vietnam Railways Corporation’s Tuy said that that Vietnam and France have a plan to restore the oldest bridge in Vietnam and open it to bicycles, motorbikes and pedestrians only. The bridge will not carry trains because the railway will run through a new bridge across the Red River.

The consultant on this project, the Transportation Ministry’s Consulting Company, is responsible for selecting the restoration measures used to preserve the bridge. The Prime Minister has asked the Transportation Ministry and the Vietnam Railways Group to restore the bridge for traffic, but also to maintain its design and structure.

The Long Bien bridge in the past.

According to Tuy, restoring Long Bien bridge is a national issue. The bridge was built in 1898 by the French. In 1898-1903, the bridge opened for pedestrians and trains. Until 1930, cars were allowed to use the bridge.

Since that time, the bridge has deteriorated and been damaged. The Government supports its restoration as a cultural symbol of Hanoi.

VietNamNet/VNE