Struggling with the problem of staticity
Thu Thiem 4 Bridge is expected to create momentum for the development of Thu Thiem New Urban Area, while shortening the connecting distance from the East (formerly Thu Duc City, Binh Thanh) to the South (formerly District 7, 8, Nha Be, Binh Chanh).
When completed, the project will contribute to reducing pressure on many major traffic axes such as Ton Duc Thang Street, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Khanh Hoi Bridge, Huynh Tan Phat - Nguyen Van Linh axis and Tan Thuan Industrial Park area.
However, the project has not been able to be implemented yet. Since 2015, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has proposed building a bridge under the BT (build - transfer) form with a total investment of more than VND 5,200 billion, with an expected clearance of 10 m, but this plan cannot be implemented.
By 2020, when the PPP Law took effect, the BT contract was eliminated, the project was forced to adjust the investment form, causing the progress to continue to grow.
At the end of 2023, the Department of Transport (now the Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City) submitted a project pre-feasibility study report. According to the proposal, Thu Thiem 4 bridge is more than 2 km long, with a scale of 6 lanes, connecting Nguyen Van Linh Avenue (formerly District 7) with Nguyen Co Thach Street in Thu Thiem New Urban Area (formerly Thu Duc City).
According to the proposed plan, Thu Thiem 4 Bridge has a normal clearance of 15 m, but the main span can be raised to 45 m when large ships pass by. The total investment capital of the project is more than 6,000 billion VND under the BOT (build - operate - transfer) form.
In August 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee sent a document to the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) stating that it had chosen the Thu Thiem 4 bridge option with a fixed clearance of 15 m, assessing it as suitable for the operation of restaurant ships and tourist ships on the Saigon River.
However, at the same time, considering adjusting the planning of Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi port (formerly District 4) towards forming an international passenger port poses a higher clearance requirement for large ships.
The lack of synchronization between bridge planning and port planning makes the 15 m clearance plan no longer suitable, forcing the city to review and recalculate.
Opening direction from international passenger port planning
According to Mr. Tran Quang Lam - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the current plans orient the development of international passenger ports on the Saigon River in Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi, Mui Den Do, Can Gio areas.
However, the Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi area is currently determined to be converted into a cultural - historical space, a park and a green area along the river, no longer suitable for arranging a large-scale international passenger port.
From this reality, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed to arrange an international passenger port in the Tan Thuan - Tan Thuan Dong - Ben Nghe port area (formerly District 7), located downstream of Thu Thiem 4 bridge. This location is considered to ensure favorable conditions for large international passenger ships to enter and exit.
With the above plan, Thu Thiem 4 Bridge only needs a fixed clearance of 15 m, both meeting the requirements of waterway traffic and reducing investment costs, limiting the impact on urban planning and landscape.
On that basis, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assign the task of completing the Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Thu Thiem 4 bridge project with a clearance clearance limit of 15 m; at the same time, report to the Ministry of Construction for updating and adjustment in the Seaport System Planning in the coming time.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has assigned the Department of Construction to prepare a Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Thu Thiem 4 bridge project; at the same time, the Department of Finance has been assigned to guide relevant agencies and units to carry out procedures to submit investment policies and ensure capital for the project.
According to the plan, Ho Chi Minh City plans to submit to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council the investment policy for the construction of Thu Thiem 4 bridge in 2026 and complete the project in 2028.
