Build the new Phong Chau bridge as quickly as possible and ensure safety and quality

At the meeting, leaders of ministries, branches and Phu Tho province discussed and analyzed the plan to organize the investment in the new Phong Chau bridge.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee Bui Van Quang affirmed that the locality's greatest wish is to have a new Phong Chau bridge as soon as possible. The province has studied investment options and found that, with the set progress milestone, having the Ministry of Transport as the investor would be the most favorable.

Agreeing with this opinion, stating that this is a project implemented in an emergency situation, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong stated that the Ministry of Transport as the investor will be very convenient in implementing the project such as: Not having to approve the investment policy; being allowed to appoint contractors for survey, design, construction...

Accordingly, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance also agreed to use the central budget reserve fund in 2024, disbursed according to the project's progress. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam said that according to the investment procedures for construction works in emergency situations, it is expected that in December this year, the Ministry will complete the procedures for approving the investment project, appointing contractors, and starting the project, including completing the survey, design, and construction of bridge piers before April 2025.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Transport to implement the direction of General Secretary, President To Lam, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in overcoming the incident at Phong Chau Bridge. The investment in rebuilding Phong Chau Bridge is an urgent task that must be carried out promptly, "with a specific mechanism, selecting investors to build the new Phong Chau Bridge as quickly as possible, ensuring safety and quality".

Recently, the Ministry of Transport and Phu Tho province have urgently carried out technical research and considered applying construction mechanisms in emergency situations. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance have considered investment capital allocation options.

In order to implement the new Phong Chau bridge construction project in the shortest time and with the most suitable mechanism and policy, Phu Tho province, ministries and branches have agreed to let the Ministry of Transport be the investment management agency. Accordingly, the current mechanism and regulations in the emergency construction situation will be applied to complete the investigation, survey, design, approval of investment decisions, application of special mechanisms in contractor selection and the project is expected to start construction in December 2024.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to allocate capital for the project according to the implementation schedule.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Phu Tho province must complete the bridge foundation construction before April 2025, before the storm season begins, and then carry out other construction items to complete the entire project in 2025.