Tallest viaduct in Vietnam nears completion

Mong Sen Bridge that links with Noi Bai - Lao Cai, an expressway connecting Hanoi with the northwest province of Lao Cai, home to the tourist town Sa Pa, is in the final stage of construction.
Set for completion by the end of this year, the viaduct is built of reinforced concrete, stretches 612 meters long with five continuous spans, and 14 meters wide with four lanes.
The bridge crosses two hills to runs past a hydroelectric power station, along with Sa Pa’s many rice terraces.

Work on the project started Jan. 3, with both sides of the bridge connected on Sep. 29. Now, around 70 workers are setting up the railing while covering the surface with asphalt.

The bridge, which cost VND450 billion ($19.8 million), has its highest pier rise 83 meters, making it the highest among all viaducts in Vietnam.

The engineering team references the parameters with a gauge.

Two workers use an altimeter to set up the railing.

Another group of workers remove iron and formworks no longer in use.

Each bridge span is supported with many bundles of prestressed cables.

Worker Nguyen Van Thoi checks the cables.

A worker welds pipes for the railing.
Lao Cai authorities said the bridge was built following the build-operate-transfer model.
Once the bridge enters use, toll stations would be placed in a way people could still choose to use the old route without paying a fee.

The distance from Lao Cai Town, capital of Lao Cai Province, to Sa Pa is around 30 kilometers. The section has been downgraded and normally suffers traffic jam.
"With Mong Sen Bridge, the distance is shortened by 2.5 kilometers. The old route, on the other hand, is dangerous," said Tran Trong Thong, Sa Pa deputy chairman.