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HCM CITY — The Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge that spans the Sài Gòn River, connecting District 1 and Thủ Đức City, officially opened to traffic on Thursday.

The 1.5-km, six-lane bridge links the city’s downtown area with the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area, designated as the new financial and innovative hub of the city. After seven years of construction, the bridge is open to use by all vehicles except container trucks.

Speaking at the bridge’s inauguration ceremony, HCM City Chairman Phan Văn Mãi said the project will complete the city's main traffic axis and attract investments needed to fully develop the new urban area before 2030.

“The completion of Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge is meaningful, especially at a time that HCM City is trying to recover from the impacts of COVID-19,” he said.

Lauding the efforts of the city and investors who have overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic to complete the project, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái said that in the near future, the Central Government will focus investments on strengthening the region’s transport infrastructure with major projects such as Ring Road 3, HCM City - Chơn Thành expressway and other significant works connecting with the Mekong Delta region.

At VNĐ3.1 trillion (US$134.54 million), the bridge is easily the most expensive of all bridges that have been constructed in the city in recent years.

The build-operate project starts at the Tôn Đức Thắng - Lê Duẩn intersection in District 1, crosses the Sài Gòn River and connects with the Arc Boulevard (route R1) in the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area.

On the District 1 side, vehicles can go straight in the direction of Tôn Đức Thắng onto Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge from Lê Duẩn Street. From Đồng Khởi Street, they can follow Tôn Đức Thắng Street, turn to Võ Văn Kiệt, go under Khánh Hội Bridge and turn back to Tôn Đức Thắng before following N2 branch to the new bridge.

On the Thủ Thiêm side, cars and other vehicles will go on Mai Chí Thọ Street, cross Tố Hữu Street to the R12 line to get to the Thủ Thiêm 2 bridge. From the direction of the Thủ Thiêm 1 bridge, vehicles will go straight from Nguyễn Cơ Thạch Street to Tố Hữu Street and then turn into R12 street.

HCM City has approved plans for a total of four bridges, besides the existing tunnel under the river, to further connect its downtown with the Thủ Thiêm Area. — VNS