A plethora of trees along District 1's Ton Duc Thang Street are set to be cut down or relocated to make way for the construction of a new bridge.
Tuoi Tre reports that city officials are gearing up to begin the next stage of work on the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which will connect downtown Saigon to the Thu Thiem Peninsula. In order to facilitate the project, 258 trees along Ton Duc Thang will be axed or moved elsewhere.
The news source shares that Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the municipal transport department, explained in a Wednesday meeting that 115 trees will be relocated to Nong Lam University in Thu Duc District, while 143 will be cut down.
According to Cuong, city leaders ordered that only unhealthy trees which wouldn't survive a move could be completely chopped down.
This is the latest in a years-long series of large-scale tree removals in District 1, and workers will take the trees down in stages in an effort to avoid a negative public reaction, Tuoi Tre adds.
The process will begin in August, when 63 trees will be cleared, followed by 79 more in October. Another 70 will be moved in March 2018, and then the final 46 will be taken away that May.
Cuong, the newspaper shares, further explained that 258 new trees will be planted along Ton Duc Thang once the bridge is completed.
The Thu Thiem 2 Bridge will cover 1,465 meters from the intersection of Le Duan and Ton Duc Thang Streets to a street in the under-construction Thu Thiem New Urban Area. It is expected to be completed in April 2018.
Video via YouTube user Sub - Zero Animation & VFX.
[Top photo via REIC]
