VietNamNet Bridge – The 100 year old Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi will be reinforced and repaired this year to ensure safety for people and vehicles at a cost of nearly VND300 billion ($14.2 million) from the state budget.

The Vietnam Railways Corporation has asked the Ministry of Transport’s permission to select eligible contractors early in order to complete the restoration within 2015.

The corporation said the Long Bien Bridge has been used for over 112 years. The bridge, which is currently used for trains and light traffic like walking and cycling, has severely deteriorated, endangering the safety of train operations and traffic in general. Many spans of the bridge were replaced by temporary girders and rusty bridge piles posed a high risks for trains and vehicles crossing the bridge.

The bridge will be restored in two phases. In the first phase, it will be reinforced to ensure safety for railway services and traffic to 2020. In the second phase, the bridge will be renovated into an urban road after the Hanoi urban rail project, Route 1 (Yen Vien - Ngoc Hoi) is finished.

The 2,290-m bridge was built between 1899 and 1902 by the French, and opened to traffic in 1903.

The bridge was upgraded twice during the 1995-2010 period with a total investment of VND116 billion ($5.5 million). However, over the past four years, the bridge has continued to deteriorate.

As the only bridge across the Red River that connected Hanoi to the highway leading to the northern port city of Hai Phong, the bridge played a crucial role in many important events in the country's history, including the independence wars.

The bridge was initially called Doumer. At the time of construction, the over-2km-long bridge was one of the world's largest bridges, and one of the most important works of the Far East.

The Doumer Bridge was known as the first steel bridge across the Red River in Hanoi. It was built in 1898 and completed in 1902 by contractor Daydé et Pillé, under the leadership of the Indochina Governor Paul Doumer.

After the country’s liberation, the bridge was renamed Long Bien.

For over 100 years, witnessing many changes since the country's wartime to peacetime, Long Bien Bridge has become a symbol of the history of Vietnam.

Under a long-term plan, a new steel railroad bridge will be built in the vicinity to replace Long Bien Bridge. A profile of the bridge is being compiled so it can be recognised as a national heritage site. 

Le Ha