Construction of a tunnel crossing Ring Road 3 will kick start soon with an investment of VND292.9 billion (US$12.6 million) to ease traffic congestion in one of the busiest intersection in Hanoi, Kinh Te & Do Thi reported.

The underpass is expected to allow vehicles to cross the Le Van Luong - Ring Road 3 intersection without interrupting the traffic flows on Ring Road 3.

The project is expected to kick off on October 2 to celebrate the 17th Hanoi Party Congress.

A joint venture of Cienco4 Group JSC, Fecon JSC and Vinh Hung Trade, Consultancy and Construction JSC has been awarded the contracts.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Transport Construction Project Management Board Pham Van Duan said that the construction would last 537 days with capital sourced from the Hanoi budget.

A representative of the consortium, the leader of Cienco4 Group, pledged to ensure traffic safety and flow during the project execution.

As designed, the total length of the tunnel is about 475 meters. Each of its direction will have two lanes. Instead of current eight lanes, the Le Van Luong tunnel, when completed, will have 10 lanes.

The project is expected to kick off on October 2 to celebrate the 17th Hanoi Party Congress.

Earlier, in July, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue urged Hanoi’s authorities to accelerate procedures for implementing the city's key transport projects to reduce traffic congestion.

Mr. Hue requested that during the process of construction, the investors and the construction units pay special attention to labor safety, quality assurance, technique and aesthetics of the works.

Besides, synchronous works should be undertaken for tree planting, street lighting and sidewalk paving. Some works are due to be completed in September to celebrate the 1010th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi.