City authorities Thursday approved a proposal by the Department of Construction to build the bridges to connect Nguyen Hue and Thai Van Lung streets.
The steel bridges will be six meters wide each. One will be located at the Nguyen Hue – Ton Duc Thang junction in front of the Majestic Saigon Hotel and the other at the Thai Van Lung – Ton Duc Thang intersection in front of The Landmark building.
The locations of the two planned pedestrian bridges. Graphic by Tam Thao, Minh Nga |
They will have elevators and feature artistic lighting to enhance the urban landscape.
They will be built under a public-private partnership on a build–transfer basis that involves no financial outlay for the city.
Besides, the city will renovate two Ba Son Bridge piers along the Saigon River, including repairs, cleaning and installation of fences, railings and access ramps.
The riverside area will be enhanced with decorative landscaping and electricity and water systems, lighting, cameras, trees, and other public utilities.
One of the piers will be converted into a flower island with green spaces as a visual highlight.
The total cost is estimated at VND80 billion (US$3 million), VND50 billion for the bridges and the rest for the piers.
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Bach Dang Wharf Park connects to Nguyen Hue pedestrian street via Ton Duc Thang Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Read/Quynh Tran |
Private investors will foot the bill and operate the structures under the BT (build-transfer) contract, getting permission to install and display commercial advertisements on LED screens on the bridges and piers and offer retail services by setting up beverage kiosks and the like.
The bridges are expected to be completed before April 30 next year.
The renovation of the piers is scheduled for completion before the Lunar New Year holidays starting mid-February.
The pedestrian square on Nguyen Hue Street, 670 meters long and inaugurated in 2015, attracts thousands of locals and tourists daily and hosts major city events.
Thai Van Lung Street is being studied for development into a model street in the downtown area and a place showcasing traffic culture and urban civility.
Bach Dang Wharf Park, beautified in 2021, is also a popular destination for both locals and visitors.
But walking between these areas is inconvenient as it requires crossing Ton Duc Thang Street, which has very heavy traffic.
Meanwhile, construction is already under way of a pedestrian bridge between Bach Dang Wharf Park and Thu Thiem over the Saigon River at a cost of VND1 trillion.
When completed next year it is expected to become a major architectural landmark.
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