The pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River, Thu Thiem 4 and Can Gio is about to be deployed, in addition to increasing traffic connections for many areas, and is also expected to create a highlight thanks to its unique design.
The pedestrian bridge is the third project to be built connecting Thu Thiem, Thu Duc City to District 1, after the Saigon River Tunnel and Ba Son Bridge which have been put into operation. With a total investment of about 1,000 billion VND, the bridge is about 500 m long, spanning the Saigon River connecting from Bach Dang Wharf Park, District 1, to the riverside park south of the Central Square of Thu Thiem Urban Area.
According to the architectural plan approved by the city, the pedestrian bridge is shaped like a water coconut leaf - a typical image in the South. This design is expected to make a strong impression when viewed from above, with the giant coconut leaf standing out in the middle of the river, connecting the existing downtown area to the new center of the city in the future - Thu Thiem Urban Area.
Plan for a pedestrian bridge shaped like a water coconut leaf. Photo: Consulting consortium
The design unit proposed a plan for the bridge piers to be located near the shore to create clearance and open space on the river, making it convenient for ships to move. The bridge is also equipped with a circulating waterfall, an artistic lighting system, miniature landscapes, and other amenities...
The design of the pedestrian bridge is assessed by the Department of Planning and Architecture of Ho Chi Minh City as unique, impressive, non-duplicated, simple, and expected to attract people and tourists to the city. When in operation, the bridge will not only serve pedestrians but also be a destination for sightseeing and community entertainment in the context of the city center lacking open space.
In addition to its unique architecture, the pedestrian bridge is also the largest project ever funded entirely by a single enterprise. Construction is expected to begin in early 2025.
Also a key project connecting Thu Thiem, Thu Thiem 4 Bridge across the Saigon River to District 7 is being promoted for investment by the city's transport sector. The bridge is 2 km long, has 6 lanes, and has an investment capital of more than 6,000 billion VND. The proposed project has its starting point connecting Nguyen Van Linh Avenue at the intersection of Tan Thuan 2 Bridge approach road, District 7. The end point connects to Nguyen Co Thach Street at the intersection with Route R4 in Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
Perspective of Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, main span lifting design. Photo: Portcoast
Unlike other bridges built in the area, Thu Thiem 4 has a special design where the main span can be raised and lowered from 15 m to 45 m. This solution is designed to facilitate the passage of large ships, helping to develop waterway traffic and tourism. This is also a condition for exploiting urban space at Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi port, which is oriented to be an international passenger port in the future.
Although there are some concerns that the design may cause traffic jams when raising and lowering the bridge, the Department of Transport said that this is not a problem because the bridge is only raised and lowered at night when there are few vehicles. "While current technology is also automatic, taking about 10 minutes for each raising and lowering will not have much impact on surrounding traffic," said a representative of the Department.
Dr. Chu Cong Minh, a bridge and road specialist at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said the pedestrian bridge and Thu Thiem 4 are located at the "front" of the city center, so in addition to serving traffic, they also require high aesthetics. In particular, with Thu Thiem 4 bridge, located at the gateway to Nha Rong port, if built low, it will greatly hinder the activities of this place. Meanwhile, building high requires long access roads, which will destroy the landscape in the area.
"Building a tunnel under the river is not an ideal solution because the construction cost is too expensive," he said, adding that the design of raising and lowering the span of Thu Thiem 4 Bridge is not available in Vietnam, but some countries have applied it, such as the Pont Jacques Chaban - Delmas Bridge in France. This is a famous project in this country, attracting tourists with its unique design.
In the south of the city, the bridge connecting Can Gio and Nha Be districts is expected to start construction in 2025. Can Gio Bridge The research has a total length of about 7.3 km, connecting from Road 15B (parallel to Huynh Tan Phat, Nha Be district), then crossing Soai Rap river to connect to Rung Sac road in Can Gio.
The architectural plan for Can Gio Bridge was selected in April 2019. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Architecture
According to the design chosen by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Can Gio is a cable-stayed bridge with the idea of sketching the image of mangrove trees - a characteristic of Can Gio district, creating an architectural highlight in South Saigon. When completed, the project will also be the longest cable-stayed bridge in Ho Chi Minh City, compared to the bridges already built such as Phu My (more than 2 km long) and Ba Son (nearly 1.5 km).
According to the Department of Transport, Can Gio Bridge is expected to be implemented under the BOT (build - operate - transfer) model, with a total capital of more than 10,500 billion VND, and will be completed in 2028. When put into operation, the bridge will create a vital traffic axis connecting South Saigon with the central area, breaking the "monopoly" of the overloaded Binh Khanh ferry.
Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, Director of the HCM City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that traffic projects in the city are now focusing more on design and aesthetics, instead of mainly focusing on technology and quality as before. Many bridges and major intersections in the area have been selected for architectural designs because the city is aiming to create iconic projects, including pedestrian bridges and Thu Thiem 4.
According to Mr. Phuc, the above bridges are not simply traffic works but also have cultural significance and development vision, especially when the city is aiming to exploit the tourism and economic potential on the Saigon River. "The pedestrian bridge, Thu Thiem 4 and Can Gio will not only be good, quality works but are also expected to be architectural highlights, symbols of the city's modernity," he said.
Gia Minh
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