Can Tho, the largest bridge in the region, will open for traffic on April 24, three years after a tragedy that killed 54 and injured nearly 100 workers.

Can Tho, the largest bridge in the region, was completed on April 12 and will open for traffic on April 24, three years after a tragedy that killed 54 and injured nearly 100 workers.

Panorama of Can Tho bridge collapse

Can Tho bridge spans the Hau River at 15.85km long, 23.1m wide, with four lanes for vehicles and two lanes for pedestrians. Construction on this key project commenced on September 25, 2004.

The total investment capital is over 4.8 trillion dong (around $342.6 million in 2010), funded by Japan’s official development aid and Vietnam’s reciprocal capital.

The project was initially scheduled to finish in December 2008, but it was delayed due to a major accident in 2007. Construction resumed in early 2009.

Around 93 percent of the workload has been completed. Workers are now focused on the final tasks to prepare for the opening ceremony at 11am, April 24.

Thien Huong