The HCM City People’s Committee has asked for permission from the government to appoint investors for the Thủ Thiêm Bridge 4 project under the BT (build-transfer) model. — Photo motthegioi.vn

HCM CITY — The HCM City People’s Committee has asked for permission from the government to appoint investors for the Thủ Thiêm Bridge 4 project under the BT (build-transfer) model.

The city proposed three investors, Phát Đạt Corporation Real Estate Development, Investment Corporation 620, and 168 Construction Development Investment JSC.

The 2.16-km, six-lane bridge connecting District 2 and 7 is expected to have a vertical clearance of 45 metres, similar to that of Phú Mỹ Bridge. The clearance would ensure traffic flow of waterway vehicles.

The cost of building a tall bridge is expensive, according to the Ministry of Transport.

If Thủ Thiêm Bridge 4 were to have a lower vertical clearance, construction costs could be reduced. But traffic flows from Tân Thuận Đông Port to pier K12, K12A, and K12B of Sài Gòn Port would be negatively affected, it said.

According to the zoning plan for ports in the Southeastern region between 2020 and 2030, 11 ports and piers designed for 20,000-30,000-tonne boats on the Sài Gòn River will be relocated. Piers K12, K12A and K12B are not included.

The committee has suggested that the government include piers K12, K12A and K12B in the plan and move them to Hiệp Phước Port area because of heavy traffic from vehicles and container trucks carrying goods from nearby ports and piers in District 4 and 7.

This would free the “hotspots” such as the Nguyễn Văn Linh – Huỳnh Tấn Phát intersection, Nguyễn Văn Linh – Tân Thuận Bridge 2 intersection, Nguyễn Tất Thành Street and others from serious traffic problems.

It would also be more convenient for construction of Thủ Thiêm Bridge 4. Since traffic would no longer travel from piers K12, K12A and K12B, the bridge could be built with a lower clearance, thus saving construction costs. — VNS