HCM City is holding a contest to find the best design for the Thu Thiem Bridge No 4 that will connect the Thu Thiem New Urban area and Districts 7.— Photo: cafeland.vn

The bridge is one of several important infrastructure items that need to be completed in the new Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2 opposite the city centre.

The bridge will span the Sai Gon River and connect the Thu Thiem area to District 7.

The new bridge must be 2.2 kilometres long and 28 metres wide with six lanes and two pavements. A maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour will be allowed on the bridge.

In addition, the bridge must withstand a 7-magnitude earthquake, and have a vertical clearance of 80 metres.

As the request of the city’s People's Committee, the Thu Thiem Bridge No 4 must have a unique architectural design.

The bridge is expected to ease traffic congestion from the city's southern area to the centre, and boost the development of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

According to the master plan, five bridges and one tunnel will connect the Thu Thiem area in District 2 with other areas of the city.

The Thu Thiem Bridge No 1 and Saigon River Tunnel, which connect to districts 1 and 2, are already in use.

The Thu Thiem Bridge No 2, which began construction in early 2015 with investment of VND3.1 trillion, has not been completed.

The management board for the Thu Thiem area has also called for investment for other infrastructure projects, including a hotel-trading-service complex.

VNS