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Four Thu Duc City bridges unable to bridge the gap

By Quynh Tran   April 18, 2021 | 03:00 am PT
Four bridges in the newly established Thu Duc City are either in limbo for several years or have been suspended following site clearance failures.
Construction of Thu Thiem 2 Bridge spanning the Saigon River to link District 1 with the then District 2, which has now become a part of Thu Duc City, had started back in 2015. The bridge connects with Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Thu Duc City spans 1.4 kilometers long in total and comprises six lanes.

Construction of the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge spanning the Saigon River to link District 1 with District 2 (now part of Thu Duc City) started in 2015. The 1.4 kilometers long, six lane bridge would connect with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
Built with a cost of nearly VND3.1 trillion ($134.9 million), the project was originally scheduled to complete in 2018. As of last year, work on the project was 70 percent complete but construction on certain sections in District 1 continues to face delays since some of the required land belongs to the Ministry of National Defense.

Being built at a cost of nearly VND3.1 trillion ($134.9 million), the project was originally scheduled for completing in 2018. As of last year, work on the project was 70 percent complete but construction on certain sections in District 1 continues to face delays since some of the required land belongs to the Ministry of National Defense.
The cable-stayed bridge, with the main tower rising 113 meters high and leaning towards Thu Thiem and the artistic lighting design, has been expected to work as an architectural highlight on the Saigon River. Once completed, it will help connect the city’s heart of District 1 with Thu Thiem New Urban Area and ease traffic congestion at the intersections of Ton Duc Thang-Nguyen Huu Canh streets and Ton Duc Thang-Le Thanh Ton streets in District 1.Aside from the land clearance roadblock, the project has also faced issues in verifying both project volume and value with investor Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment JSC. For now, related agencies and departments are in the process of negotiating with the investor, as required by the Department of Transport earlier last month.

The cable-stayed bridge, with its main tower rising 113 meters and leaning towards Thu Thiem, is supposed to become an architectural highlight on the river with an artistic lighting design. Once complete, it will help connect the downtown HCMC with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area and ease traffic congestion at the intersections of Ton Duc Thang-Nguyen Huu Canh streets and Ton Duc Thang-Le Thanh Ton streets in District 1.
However, aside from the land clearance roadblock, the project has also faced issues in verifying both project volume and value with investor Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment JSC. For now, related agencies and departments are negotiating the issues with the investor, as directed by the Department of Transport last month.
The bridge as seen from the side of Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1. It is expected that on April 15, work would resume on the bridge after the city authorities have worked with Dai Quang Minh and related parties to tackle all issues for the project so that it could be completed in 2023.

The bridge as seen from Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1. Work resumed on Thursday on the bridge after city authorities worked with Dai Quang Minh and others to tackle all issues so that the project can be completed in 2023.
In 2016, work started to build Nam Ly Bridge on Do Xuan Hop Street at the cost of VND857 billion to replace an old one that has been become degraded and way too small for the rising demand. Passing Rach Chiec Canal, the bridge is 450 meters long, 20 meters wide and was initially slated for completion in 2018 but by 2019, only 39 percent had been finished and the project has been put on hold ever since to wait for clear site.

In 2016, work began on the Nam Ly Bridge on Do Xuan Hop Street at the cost of VND857 billion. It was to replace an old one that had degraded and was too small to meet rising traffic demand. The 450m long, 20m wide bridge over the Rach Chiec Canal was to be completed in 2018, but in 2019, just 39 percent of the work had been done. The project has been put on hold since, awaiting site clearance.
Building materials turn rusty on the half-finished bridge.

Building materials rust on the half-finished bridge.
Wild grass grows all over barriers set around the foot of a bridge span that. Locals have even place several signboards to advertise their products and service on those barriers.

Wild plants grow around barriers set at the foot of a bridge span. Locals have begun using them to advertise various products and services.
Areas beneath the bridge have been turned into landfills.Tardiness in compensating affected households has led the problems in clearing site for the rest of the project. It is because the HCMC’s Department of Natural Resources and the city administration have yet to approve the compensation costs. For this issue, the authorities of Thu Duc City have proposed higher authorities to soon approve the compensation, promising that once that approval is made, Thu Duc will offer clean land plots for the project within six months.

Some areas beneath the unfinished bridge resemble landfills.
Delays in compensating affected households have been a main roadblock to site clearance for the rest of the project. This, in turn, has happened because the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and the city administration are yet to approve the compensation costs. Thu Duc City has proposed that higher authorities approve the compensation soon, promising that once it is done, the new city-within-city will finish the site clearance within six months.
Six kilometers from Nam Ly, Tang Long Bridge on La Xuan Oai Street has been built since 2017 to span 680 meters across the Trau Trau Canal to replace an old, downgraded one nearby.

Six kilometers from Nam Ly, the Tang Long Bridge on La Xuan Oai Street is another one that has been languishing after work began in 2017. The 680 meters long bridge over the Trau Trau Canal is meant to replace an old, downgraded one nearby.
Costing VND450 billion, it is set to be completed in 2019 but by far, just more than 30 percent is done and the rest is being stuck at the step of clearing site.The issue of this project is related to adjustment in the geological border for the project that was made by the authorities of District 9 before the district was merged with districts 2 and Thu Duc to become Thu Duc City earlier this year. Now, the project’s management board said if Thu Duc City continues the job that District 9 has started and hands over the clear site soon, the bridge could be completed in 12 months.

The VND450 billion bridge was to be completed in 2019, but so far, only around 30 percent of the work has been done, site clearance proving to be the stumbling block, yet again.
One issue with this project is related to adjustments in the geological border made by erstwhile District 9 authorities. Now, the project’s management board has said that if Thu Duc City continues the job that District 9 had begun and clears the site soon, the bridge can be completed in 12 months.
Long Dai Bridge across the Tac River, a tributary of the Dong Nai River, was built in March 2017 at the cost of VND353 billion and for completion in two years. By now, its progress has reached just more than 50 percent as all the construction work has stopped since December, 2018.

Work on the Long Dai Bridge across the Tac River, a tributary of the Dong Nai River, began in March 2017. Built at a cost of VND353 billion, it was to be completed in two years. But two years after the original deadline, the bridge is far from completion with around 50 percent of the work remaining unfinished. Construction work on the bridge stopped in December, 2018.
The lateness in site clearance has been blamed for disagreement in compensation level. Thu Duc City came to life on Dec. 9 after the National Assembly greenlighted its establishment as a city within a city in HCMC. The new city was formed by merging three eastern districts - 2, 9 and Thu Duc. Spreading across 211 square kilometers, it houses more than a million people and is expected to contribute 30 percent of the city’s economic growth and 7 percent for the nations per year. Thu Duc is also expected to function as an innovative urban area encompassing the hi-tech park in District 9, the university precinct in Thu Duc District, and the new urban area and financial center on Thu Thiem Peninsula in District 2, helping fulfill HCMC’s plans to become a smart city.

The delay in site clearance has been blamed on disagreements over the compensation.
Thu Duc City was established at the beginning of this year by merging three eastern districts - 2, 9 and Thu Duc. Spread across 211 square kilometers, it houses more than a million people and is expected to contribute 30 percent of the city’s economic growth and 7 percent of the nation's per year.
The city is also expected to function as an innovative urban area, encompassing the hi-tech park in District 9, the university precinct in Thu Duc District, and the new urban area and financial center on Thu Thiem Peninsula in District 2, furthering HCMC’s ambitions of becoming a smart city.
 
 
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