After 7 years of construction, the Thu Thiem tunnel that runs underneath the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City will be open to traffic on November 20, said Tran Quang Lam, head of the Thu Thiem Tunnel Management Board.
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| The Thu Thiem Tunnel, which will open to traffic next month |
At a press conference yesterday, Lam also introduced the plans for vehicle circulation in the tunnel, which is 1,490 meters long and links District 1 with Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2.
Car and passenger vans are allowed to travel around the clock in the tunnel, while motorbikes’ circulation is limited between 8 am and 6 pm.
Light trucks, of 5-ton load and less, are permitted to travel from 8 am to 4 pm and from 8 pm to 6 pm.
Heavy trucks, with load of over 5 tons, are allowed to travel from 9 pm to 6 am.
The tunnel does not accept pedestrians, non-motorized and home-made vehicles, vehicles carrying live animals not meeting environmental hygiene requirements, and vehicles transporting harmful or inflammable substances, explosives, and other dangerous items.
Vehicles of over-30-ton load, trailer-trucks, and vehicles with dimensions beyond 4.2 meters in height and 2.5 meters in width, can use the tunnel only when permitted by related agencies.
Le Toan, deputy director of the HCMC Transport Department, said the traffic fee on vehicles is expected to be applied after the coming Tet (lunar New Year Festival), subject to approval by the city People’s Committee.
The tunnel, part of HCM City’s East-West highway project, receives a total investment of $189 million provided by Japanese ODA and have been constructed by a consortium of four Japanese contractors: Obayashi Corporation, Taisei Corporation, the Kumagai-Kajima consortium and Toa Corporation.
