The Tra Khuc River downstream dam project and Tra Khuc 1 bridge - not just a traffic or irrigation project, these are two key projects that will reshape urban space, elevate position and create a unique identity for the city on the Tra River.
The Tra Khuc River downstream dam project, started in July 2019, invested by the Quang Ngai Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, was initially expected to be completed in 2021. With the multi-purpose goal, the dam not only retains water and regulates the flow but also turns both sides of the riverbank into a vibrant urban space, opening up potential for tourism and service development...
However, this journey has been difficult due to land clearance problems, causing the project's progress to continuously be delayed. From 2021 to 2023, and then continued to adjust until August 2024, the project even had to temporarily suspend construction due to land clearance problems.
However, with the drastic participation of the provincial leaders and the continuous efforts of the investor, the dam project has officially resumed construction after a long period of "winter sleep". The investor's representative informed the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper: "The site clearance work for the Tra Khuc downstream dam project is making good progress. Up to now, we have approved the compensation plan, organized payment and handed over the site at pier T9B, creating conditions for construction units to implement. The implementation value has reached VND 1,130/1,278 billion, equivalent to 88% of the contract value".
Along with the dam project, on May 29, 2025, the Department of Economics - Construction Investment Management under the Ministry of Construction held a meeting to appraise the feasibility study report of the Tra Khuc 1 bridge project. The Quang Ngai Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board is completing the dossier to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for project approval according to regulations, striving to complete investment preparation procedures and start construction on October 15, 2025.
According to the investment policy decision, the Tra Khuc 1 bridge project is about 830m long; the bridge width is about 28m; the two ends of the bridge have 2 intersections, underpasses and other auxiliary items. The total investment is VND 2,199 billion, implemented in 2024 - 2027.
Previously, Quang Ngai organized a competition for architectural plans and project design options. Accordingly, Tra Khuc 1 Bridge has a design of 3 consecutive circles creating the image of a waterway in the middle of Tra Khuc River, symbolic, associated with the history of formation and development of Quang Ngai.
Tra Khuc 1 Bridge was built around 1963-1964, with a length of 643m, with 20 spans. The bridge is designed with a system of anti-cold steel piles, with piles used as pillars, supporting the entire bridge, with sturdy cross-linking. However, due to long-term use and consecutive heavy floods on the river, despite being repaired, Tra Khuc 1 bridge has now seriously degraded. In 2015, when inspecting and determining the weak bridge, Quang Ngai had to ban trucks from passing through this bridge.
