A blueprint of Sai Gon Bridge No 2. VNS File Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Sai Gon Bridge No 2 in HCM City linking Districts 2 and Binh Thanh was inaugurated on Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The 987.3m long, 23.5m wide, four-lane bridge, built just a few metres away from the old SaiGon Bridge, connects HCM City with the southeastern, the Central and the northern provinces of Viet Nam.

It is expected to have a lifespan of 100 years and survive earthquakes of up to 5.5 magnitude.

The VND1.5 trillion (about US$71 million) bridge is expected to ease traffic on the constantly overloaded Sai Gon Bridge, which is nearly five decades old.

The BT (build-transfer) project is also aimed at unclogging the city's north-eastern entrance, according to the builder, the HCM City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Co.

The new bridge is meant for vehicles travelling from Binh Thanh to District 2, and the old one, for vehicles in the opposite direction.

Deputy PM Phuc hailed HCM City's policy of mobilising private sources of funds for developing infrastructure, including the bridge.

He also praised the engineers and workers who completed its construction in just 18 months instead of the scheduled 21.

He urged the city authorities to mobilise more funds for infrastructure development and speed up administrative reforms to create favourable conditions for local and foreign investors eyeing projects in the city.

Nguyen Huu Tin, deputy chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, said the Sai Gon Bridge No 2 would help ease the congestion of traffic moving from the Ha Noi Highway to inner districts. —VNS