The design of Thu Thiem 4 Bridge can increase the clearance to 45m as proposed by the HCMC Department of Transport earlier. Photo: Portcoast

The clearance plan for Thu Thiem 4 bridge has just been sent by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) for review and comments. This is to have a basis for completing the project's pre-feasibility study report, and soon submit it to the competent authority for appraisal and decision on the investment policy. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Transport Development Plan to 2020 and vision after 2020 approved in 2013, Thu Thiem 4 bridge will connect District 7 with District 2 (now Thu Duc City) with a scale of 4 lanes. However, after the process of researching and evaluating the traffic forecast until 2050, the consultant proposed to expand the cross-section of the bridge to 6 lanes (4 lanes for cars and 2 mixed lanes). The scale of the 6-lane Thu Thiem 4 bridge has been updated in the draft of the Ho Chi Minh City Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Project to adjust the Ho Chi Minh City General Construction Planning to 2040 and a vision to 2060, which will be submitted to the competent authority for appraisal and approval in the near future. In the process of selecting the Thu Thiem 4 bridge construction plan, two proposed clearance plans were proposed. Plan 1 has a main bridge clearance across the Saigon River of 10m, with a total preliminary investment of about 4,365 billion VND. However, this plan is considered limited due to the low clearance height, hindering the operation of waterway vehicles, affecting the effective exploitation of Nha Rong and Khanh Hoi ports. Plan 2, with a clearance of 15m (fixed - no lifting or opening solution), has an estimated total investment of about 4,840 billion VND. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said it would choose this option. According to the explanation, although this option costs about 10% more than option 1, it brings many outstanding benefits, such as allowing boats with a height of more than 10m to easily circulate, especially restaurant boats carrying tourists, enjoying the scenery of the Saigon River. At the same time, it helps to effectively exploit the Nha Rong and Khanh Hoi ports, creating conditions for the development of tourism on the Saigon River.

Thu Thiem 4 Bridge construction site. Photo: Anh Tu

Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport proposed a plan to build Thu Thiem 4 bridge with a normal operating clearance of 15m, but the main span of the Saigon River could be raised to 45m through two towers and a lifting system. According to calculations, with the plan to raise and open the clearance, Thu Thiem 4 bridge has a total investment of more than 6,000 billion VND (including loan interest). However, to determine the clearance and design plan for the Thu Thiem 4 bridge span, the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee assigned the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to direct the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to reach an agreement, because the above area is being studied for a plan to connect the North-South high-speed railway with the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway). The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assessed that the construction of Thu Thiem 4 bridge will help create a new traffic axis in the North-South direction of the city, connecting the South of the city with the central area and Thu Duc City in the East. This will reduce traffic pressure on Nguyen Tat Thanh - Khanh Hoi bridge, Kenh Te bridge, Ong Lanh bridge, Nguyen Van Cu bridge, etc., contributing to solving traffic congestion in the area. Together with investment projects to build An Phu intersection, National Highway 50, closed projects of Ring Road 2, Ring Road 3, elevated roads, radial expressways, Thu Thiem 4 bridge will create an inter-regional traffic system, gradually completing the city's traffic system according to the plan.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/xa-hoi/tphcm-muon-xay-cau-thu-thiem-4-voi-tinh-khong-co-dinh-15m-1379033.ldo