Work has begun on the VND8,104bn Hanoi-Thai Nguyen expressway in Vietnam.

The 61.3km-long, 34.5m-wide four-lane road will connect the Gia Lam district in Hanoi to the northern province of Thai Nguyen.

The road, which will cover 29 bridges, is designed to allow vehicles to run at a maximum of 100km and is expected to reduce congestion on Highway No 3.

The project is being funded with VND6,093bn from the Japanese Official Development Assistance fund and over VND2,000bn from the country’s state budget.

Work is being carried out by a joint venture of Civil Construction Engineering No 8, Truong Son General and Vietnam Construction and Import-Export.

The expressway is scheduled to open in 2012.