Bac Ninh: Traffic - the "blood vessel" that awakens new growth poles

BAC NINH - Located on the important economic corridor of the North, and at the same time playing the role of "gateway" connecting the capital Hanoi with international border gates and seaports, the two provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh (old) have become dynamic industrial centers. In recent times, the two provinces have had many solutions to expand development space through regional linkage strategies and infrastructure investment. A series of newly opened bridges and roads have shortened geographical distances, increased connectivity of capital flows, resources and development opportunities.

Many connecting works

Identifying transportation as a key factor, paving the way for sustainable socio-economic development, in recent years, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces (old) have always paid special attention to transportation infrastructure. In addition to improving rural transportation, the province also focuses on investing in external transportation projects, creating strategic inter-regional connections.

Hanoi - Bac Giang Expressway. Photo: Viet Hung.

One of the outstanding projects is Dong Viet Bridge, a key project connecting Bac Giang with Hai Duong province. With a total investment of more than 1.5 trillion VND, Dong Viet Bridge is designed in a modern style, playing an important role in expanding the regional transportation network. When completed, the project will help shorten the distance, save travel time, and open up new development space. Under the hot sun of the last days of June, the atmosphere at the construction site is still bustling and urgent. Every last meter of asphalt road is diligently constructed by engineers and workers.

Mr. Tran Huu Quynh, a technical officer of the contractor, said: “Asphalt concrete is very sensitive to rain. If the weather is unfavorable, it will seriously affect the quality of the project. It is sunny now, but there may be sudden rain, so we have to work through the afternoon, even into the night to keep up with the schedule.”

Similarly, Hoa Son Bridge over Cau River located in Hoa Son Commune, Bac Giang Province connecting to Thai Nguyen Province was invested with more than 540 billion VND from the local budget. The bridge is 439 m long, with a bridge surface of 11 m wide. In parallel with this project, Thai Nguyen Province implemented a connecting road project, connecting Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang and Vinh Phuc provinces to connect to Hoa Son Bridge with a total value of more than 3.8 trillion VND. The coordination between localities opens up new development opportunities for the whole region, especially key industrial zones. At the same time, the completion of the National Highway 37-National Highway 17 connecting Bac Giang with Thai Nguyen has overcome the "concave area" in traffic, creating favorable conditions to attract investment in industrial zones and clusters.

Airport and railway development planning

In recent years, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces (old) have identified transportation as a priority spearhead in socio-economic infrastructure development. Tens of thousands of billions of VND from public investment capital have been allocated to this sector, accounting for a large proportion of the total investment resources of the whole province. With the strategic orientation of "Towards the capital, towards the sea", Bac Giang province focuses on developing key connecting routes with Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hanoi, etc., maximizing the advantages of geographical location, promoting regional connectivity and sustainable economic development.

New development requirements place higher demands on transport infrastructure. Therefore, in the 2026-2030 period, the province will review and adjust the goals, perspectives and orientations for transport development on the basis of expanded administrative units.

Recently, Bac Giang province approved the investment policy for the project to renovate and upgrade provincial road 291, section Km16+980 to Km25, in the period of 2025-2028 with a total investment of more than 481 billion VND from the provincial budget. The main route is about 8 km long, built according to grade III mountainous standards, synchronously connected with provincial road 293. In addition, a 1.3 km long branch route is invested with a roadbed scale of 16 m.

The project contributes to completing Provincial Road 291, which is over 27 km long, of which the section from Yen Dinh commune to Tay Yen Tu town (former Son Dong district) has been upgraded and put into use in early 2024. The remaining part is still a grade IV mountainous road, not meeting development needs. The synchronous renovation will shorten travel time, increase accessibility to remote areas and promote investment attraction.

In addition to inter-provincial connecting routes, Bac Giang province pays special attention to developing transportation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Bac Ninh province (old) coordinates the implementation of the Bac Ninh - Hanoi expressway; implements a series of projects connecting both banks of the Cau River. During the implementation process, localities receive close coordination from neighboring localities.

Quang Ninh province not only invested in an 8km extension connecting to provincial road 291 (with a total investment of over VND 1,400 billion), but also upgraded strategic roads such as provincial road 330, connecting provincial road 293 of Bac Giang province with national highway 18, opening the door for trade from the northeastern mountainous region to major seaports. Hanoi city invested in a road connecting to Xuan Cam - Bac Phu bridge. The above coordination has contributed to improving investment efficiency and strengthening regional connectivity.

Thanks to increasingly complete transport infrastructure, the province's goods have easily penetrated into major domestic and foreign markets. At the same time, Tay Yen Tu spiritual tourism has been promoted to develop with direct connections to Quang Ninh and Hai Duong. This is a vivid demonstration of the effectiveness of the regional linkage strategy that Bac Giang is implementing methodically, resolutely and effectively.

After the merger of the two provinces, the problem of organizing development space has become more urgent than ever. In response to new requirements, the province has identified transport infrastructure as a fundamental factor, playing a connecting role and leading socio-economic development. Not only focusing on synchronous development of road and waterway infrastructure, the province has also directed the implementation of key items related to the Gia Binh airport project such as: Master planning, investment orientation for the construction of airport technical infrastructure, and at the same time building a key route connecting Bac Ninh - Hanoi. At the same time, the province is also promoting the planning of an urban railway system including two routes: Bac Ninh - Noi Bai and Bac Ninh - Yen Vien, creating a premise for the development of modern and sustainable public transport.

According to the representative of the Department of Construction, the new development requirements place higher demands on transport infrastructure. Therefore, in the 2026-2030 period, the province will review and adjust the goals, viewpoints and orientations for transport development on the basis of expanded administrative units. The focus is on ensuring synchronous connections between industrial parks, clusters and urban areas with the national transport network, while maximizing the efficiency of inter-regional dynamic axes. The province will continue to add external connections with neighboring provinces, increase trade capacity and expand development space. Completing a modern and smooth transport infrastructure system is not only an immediate task but also a solid foundation for a new development stage of the province.

Trinh Lan

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-giao-thong-mach-mau-danh-thuc-cuc-tang-truong-moi-postid421007.bbg