A view of Soai Rap River. — Photo saigongo.com.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Can Gio Urban and Tourism JSC has sought approval from the HCM City People's Committee to do a feasibility study to build a bridge over the Soai Rap River linking the suburban districts of Nha Be and Can Gio.

Can Gio Bridge will help reduce the distance and travelling time between downtown HCM City and Can Gio District, which now entails crossing the Soai Rap by ferry at Binh Khanh Wharf or by boat at An Thoi Dong Wharf.

Besides the obvious economic benefits better connectivity will bring, the bridge will also help develop tourism in the coastal district.

The bridge will measure 3.4km in length and have four lanes and a clearance of 55 metres above the water. A proposed 16km road will link Binh Khanh with Rung Sac Road in Can Gio.

The bridge will cost an estimated VND5.303 trillion (US$235 million) excluding land compensation costs.

The company has proposed a BT (build-transfer) investment mode with the builder getting land in Can Gio Urban Area as compensation.

If the value of the lands is less than the bridge's cost, the city administration would pay the difference in cash or through transferring more lands. — VNS