Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport speaks out about the proposal to dismantle Tran Khanh Du bridge over Nhieu Loc canal.

TPO - The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport believes that dismantling the Tran Khanh Du iron bridge on the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal will cause more pressure and traffic congestion for neighboring bridges and traffic systems.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has just sent a document to the City People's Committee, reporting on responses to voters' recommendations at the program "People ask - the government answers" in January 2024.

Previously, at the program "People ask - the government answers" in January 2024, voters recommended that city leaders and leaders of the Department of Transport pay attention to the clearance of bridges in the inner city so that ships can easily travel and conveniently serve tourists. At the same time, it was proposed to remove the Tran Khanh Du iron bridge (District 1) because there is a concrete bridge that has been completed for several years now.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport speaks out about the proposal to dismantle Tran Khanh Du bridge over Nhieu Loc canal photo 1

Tran Khanh Du Bridge crosses the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal, connecting Hoang Sa Street (District 1) and Truong Sa Street (Phu Nhuan District, Binh Thanh District). Photo: Tu Quy

Regarding the proposal to dismantle the Tran Khanh Du iron bridge, the Department of Transport said that this project crosses the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, connecting Hoang Sa street (District 1) and Truong Sa street (Phu Nhuan district, Binh Thanh district), and is being operated to serve the traffic in the area, sharing traffic volume (motorbikes and pedestrians) for neighboring bridges (Bong bridge, Hoang Hoa Tham bridge, Kieu bridge). At the same time, Tran Nguyen Dan street connecting Hoang Hoa Tham bridge and Tran Quang Khai street is often overloaded and congested during rush hour.

“Therefore, dismantling Tran Khanh Du bridge will cause more pressure and traffic congestion for nearby bridges and traffic systems, especially Hoang Hoa Tham bridge, Bong bridge, Kieu bridge, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, Tran Quang Khai routes,...” - Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport stated its opinion.

Regarding the increase of clearance of inner-city bridges, the Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City said that the Department of Tourism is currently implementing a plan to develop waterway tourism products in the city for the period 2023 - 2025. Including the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe inner-city tourism route (a short-range waterway tourism route, currently exploited by Nhieu Loc Boat Company Limited).

On this inland waterway, there are bridges built a long time ago and have low clearance height including Thi Nghe Bridge 1, Dien Bien Phu Bridge 1, 2, Tran Khanh Du Bridge, Le Van Sy Bridge. At the location of the bridges, there are warning and traffic signal systems to ensure safe traffic operation.

“In the above solution to develop waterway tourism products, there is a solution to increase the clearance under the bridge to ensure smooth and safe operation of watercraft (such as Tran Khanh Du bridge). Therefore, the Department of Transport will coordinate on appropriate solutions when the Department of Tourism conducts a survey and invests in infrastructure for the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe inner-city tourism route, as well as other inner-city waterways” - Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport informed.