Tiếng ViệtOn December 27th, 2015 in Cai Be Ward, Tien Giang Province, Ngoc Hoang Bridge (My Loi B Bridge) with the total budget of 1.4 billion VND is officially put into operation. It is a cable-stayed bridge with two piers and the total length of 60m. This is the Foundation’s 5th project in Tien Giang, and the 8th in Mekong Delta.
My Loi B Commune has played an important role in developing local economy. Every day, 500-600 arrivals of people are travelling and trading across the region. However, the old unsafe ferry was the only means of transportation. The locals and especially the children living in the area were facing the extreme anxiety when travelling by ferry everyday. Therefore they had been dreaming about a stable bridge which could help them not to live in fear anylonger.
Unlike any previous brigdes, the geography condition of Ngoc Hoang Bridge is totally different. Geotechnical survey report shows that the soil from the ground to the depth of 30m is soft soils attaching to the young deposit layer and thus has very high subsidence compression ratio, low load capacity and relatively large deformation . Hence, reinforced concrete piles must be inserted from the depth of 35m where there is the an average soil attaching to medium-aged depoit layer and having better load capacity. This is the reason why Ngoc Hoang bridge costs much more than any other brige with similar scale. Having interviewed the locals, Nam Phuong Foundation also noticed that the challenge in geographical characteristics of the region had been also the main reason for many other ogranzations not to sponsor a brige at this location. Despite that challenge, Nam Phuong Foundation conducted research, surveyed geographical position, dealt with numerous technical problems, seeking for sponsorship to make My Loi B people’s dream come true.
Ngoc Hoang Bridge was ground-breaking in August 2015 with total budget of 1.4 billion VND whereas 70% came from three key sponsors: Masan Consumer Group (500 million VND); Nam Phuong Foundation (260 million VND) and British Business Group in Vietnam – BBGV (223 million VND) . The BBGV (The British Business Group Vietnam). The local commune and government is responsible for the remaining costs. This synergetic arrangement works to instill a sense of responsibility as well as achievement in the people as they will be able to own the fruits of their labour, and ensure that they will appreciate and preserve the bridge better for future generations. When put into operation, Ngoc Hoang Bridge will act as the transport connection of the two communes Tan Hung and An Thai Trung; as well as the national roads between QL30 (National Road 30) district, and QL1 (National Road 1) district, thereby stimulating economic and local infrastructure.
Up to this point, the Build a Bridge project of Nam Phuong Foundation have completed 5 welfare bridges, which are: Loi Trinh Bridge, Mot Thuoc Bridge, Sinh Chanh Bridge, My Loi B Bridge – Tien Giang Province, and Tan Hau Bridge – Ben Tre Province. In the first two months of 2016, 2 first bridges in Long An Province will be handed over which are expected to make remarkable change in the region and local’s life.
