At a ceremony yesterday afternoon, authorities formally kicked-off construction of the Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge which will stretch across the Saigon River from Tôn Đức Thắng Street to the Thủ Thiêm peninsula.
In October, it was reported that the Department of Defense, which operates the Ba Son Shipyard that lies within the planned construction zone, asked that construction of the bridge be pushed back to 2018 in order to “complete its national defense production duties.”
Last month, HCMC People’s Committee Vice Chairman, Nguyễn Hữu Tín, said that work on the bridge will not disrupt the relocation of the shipyard.
Construction on the Thủ Thiêm side of the project. Photo via Doc Lap.
Authorities hope that improved infrastructure in the area will help spur development of the Thủ Thiêm Urban Area which has stalled due to lack of investment.
Scheduled to be completed in 2018, the 1,300m, six-lane bridge is expected to cost more than VND4.26 trillion (US$200 million).
The city has already announced that 84 of Tôn Đức Thắng Street’s 272 trees (it’s unclear exactly which trees are in question) will be chopped down and 37 relocated to make way for new bridge.
