Some 50 more bridges will be built in HCMC in the next five years to meet the rising need of a megacity of 10 million people by the year 2015, according to the city’s Department of Communications and Transport.

In its report to be delivered at the department’s Party congress due to take place yesterday, July 20, the department stressed the need to develop such bridges, especially large-scale bridges like Saigon 2 and Thu Thiem 2 to connect the city center with axis routes or new urban centers.

Saigon 2 will be located in parallel with Saigon Bridge to link the city center with Hanoi Highway. The bridge, likely to be developed by Phu My Bridge BOT Corporation, will help ease traffic circulation via the existing bridge Saigon, which has become overburdened.

Meanwhile, the new bridges of Thu Thiem 2, 3 and 4 will link up Thu Thiem Peninsula in District 2 with districts 1, 4 and 7. Currently, Thu Thiem Bridge has been completed linking Thu Thiem with Binh Thanh District. A tunnel under the Saigon River will also opened to traffic early next year to improve traffic flow between the city center and District 2.

Tran Quang Phuong, director of the city’s Department of Communications and Transport, said apart from developing roads and bridges, the city is also making efforts to develop the commuter transport system to cater to 12% of the traveling demand of the people by 2015. The city will also seek to ensure progress of metro routes in the city so as to meet the rising need for massive passenger transport in the years to come.

Rol.vn - Source: Vietnam Net