Southeast Asia’s biggest river tunnel opens in HCM City

>> Thu Thiem ferry terminal to close early 2012
>> Thu Thiem tunnel to open to traffic next month

Thu Thiem tunnel, along with the entire Dong Tay Avenue, in HCM City officially opened to traffic on November 20.

Officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

“This new route will help the development of the new urban area, Thu Thiem, so it can become a centre for business," said the mayor of Ho Chi Minh City, Le Hoang Quan.

Quan also thanked the Japanese government, which signed five credit agreements, for its support for the construction of the tunnel.

The cost of the entire Dong-Tay Avenue project, which included the street itself, increased from original estimates, from VND9.864 trillion (USD469.6 million) toVND16 trillion (USD761.7 million). The Japan Bank for International Cooperation’s lent a total of VND6.394 trillion (USD304.4 million) towards completion, Quan noted.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several high-ranking Government officials, including President Truong Tan Sang, former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, said that the inauguration of Thu Thiem tunnel and Dong-Tay Avenue is a breakthrough for municipal transportation. The tunnel is expected shorten the travel time between the eastern and western parts of HCM City, in addition to helping mitigate traffic congestion.

On the occasion, President Truong Tan Sang presented a Grade 2 Labour Medal to HCM City Urban Transport Investment and Construction’s management board, as well as a Grade 3 Labour Medal to three individuals for their contributions to the construction of the project.

On the morning of November 21, hundreds of people in HCM City lined up in front of Thu Thiem tunnel to get a chance to be among the first to travel through it.

Nguyen Minh Quang, 68, from District No. 2’s Thu Thiem Ward, said, “I’ve been waiting for this day for years. I've had to use the ferry to get across the river for many years, but the tunnel is much more convenient.”