Work has started on a $144 million new bridge linking downtown Ho Chi Minh City and District 2.
The new Thu Thiem 2 Bridge will take traffic from the northern side of the CBD across the Saigon River to the Thu Thiem part of District 2, which is to be developed into a new urban area.
The six lane bridge, pictured above in an artist’s impression released to Vietnam news media, is 1.5 kilometres long.
Commencement of construction was deferred two years and is now scheduled to be completed in April 2018, although Vietnam news media say the project may open earlier if the Ba Son Shipyard can clear part of its site earlier. Some of the shipyard will need to be relocated.
Construction of approach roads on the District 1 side will require the removal of dozens of trees lining Ton Duc Thang, some estimated to be 100 years or more old.
Vietnamese media report the bridge will be constructed under a build-operate-transfer investment model with state and private investors cooperating, including Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment JSC.
