Van Thanh Bridge Restarted; Projected Completion by End-2026

After a period of stalling caused by land clearance delays, the Văn Thánh Bridge project has been restarted, with a target completion by the end of 2026.

Project overview and purpose

The Văn Thánh Bridge is the fifth crossing over the Ca Ty River, connecting the two sides of Phan Thiết city. The project is designed to ease traffic on major corridors, complete the city’s urban infrastructure network, reduce pressure on existing bridges, shorten travel distances for residents in the Văn Thánh area, and support urban development on the southern bank of the river.

Cause of delays and restart conditions

Implementation has faced delays, with the biggest factor being land clearance at both ends of the bridge. At times, the construction site nearly stalled due to limited access to bring in equipment.

Three spans of the Văn Thánh Bridge have already been poured. The site is preparing to construct Pier M1 as the remaining land is handed over.

Land clearance progress

The Lâm Đồng Province Project Management Board reports that relocation progress has recently improved:

• In Tiến Thành ward, land clearance is largely complete, with only one household remaining to be handed over during the week.
• In Bình Thuận ward, the number of affected households has fallen sharply, and handover is expected within the week.

According to the project management board, the total land area to be recovered is 1.66 hectares across 39 files (34 households and 5 organizations). To date, more than 15,170 m² has been handed over out of 16,600 m², reaching 91.4%.

Once land is handed over, contractors plan to deploy machinery and vehicles to proceed with construction. The restart is viewed as a turning point because the lack of land previously prevented coordinated work.

Scope, contract progress, and timeline

The Văn Thánh Bridge project has total investment of more than 225 billion VND, funded by central government sources for 2021 to 2025. Construction began in late 2022.

The work includes a prestressed concrete bridge with six spans totaling 174 m, an overall bridge length of nearly 180 m, and a width of 19 m. The approach road is nearly 300 m, alongside a transformation of the Y-shaped intersection and a synchronized system of technical infrastructure.

To date, completed work is about 58% of the contract. Major components reported as completed include Pier M2, columns T1 to T5, casting all 114 deck girders, driving 44 concrete piles, and finishing 170 m of vertical drainage. Three spans have been decked, and the site is ready to construct Pier M1 once remaining land is handed over.

Based on actual progress, the project management board is proposing that the provincial People’s Committee of Lâm Đồng extend the completion date to December 2026. The investor also said it will accelerate progress when conditions permit.

Expected impact

The restart following clarified land clearance is expected to strengthen regional transport infrastructure, support urban upgrading, improve connectivity, and contribute to socio-economic development in Phan Thiết and surrounding areas.