Under river tunnel nears completion

News - HCM City's Thu Thiem Tunnel under the Sai Gon River will be open to traffic on November 20, providing six lanes of road connecting HCM City's District 2 and District 1.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday, Le Toan, deputy director of the city's Department of Transport, said with the opening of the tunnel, the entire East-West Highway will be put into official use as several sections have been open to traffic since November 2009.

The highway is expected to dramatically ease traffic flow from the western to eastern side of the city.

The 1.49km tunnel has two middle lanes for cars and buses and one side lane for motorbikes from 6am to 9pm and for heavy lorries for the rest of the day.

The speed limit for cars and buses is a minimum of 30km per hour and a maximum of 60km per hour, while the maximum speed for motorbikes is 40km per hour.

Several potential users and means of transport are prohibited from using the tunnel.

These include pedestrians, modified three-wheeled vehicles, vehicles with chain wheels, vehicles carrying live poultry or cattle, vehicles carrying flammable and explosive items, and vehicles with a total weight of more than 30 tonnes.

Overweight vehicles with trailers and vehicles that exceed permissible length will be allowed to travel if they have special permission from tunnel authorities.

Le Toan said all work on the tunnel would be completed on November 15.

The priority will be given to finishing the installation of painted and electronic instruction panels at the tunnel's entrance at both ends.

Toan said that city authorities had carefully considered how to regulate motorbike traffic as experts had warned about the potential dangers.

"We have measures to prevent risks, including barriers between lanes," he said. "We prohibit motorbikes from travelling during the hours allowed for heavy trucks. There are also clear instruction panels right at the entrance."

In case of accidents, the tunnel authorities have an emergency rescue team that can work with teams of traffic police and inspectors, said Tran Quang Lam, director of the tunnel management centre.

Tunnel fees are expected to be collected beginning in February next year, depending on the final decision of the city's People's Council.

On the day of opening the tunnel, city authorities will hold a ceremony to open the entire 22.8km East-West Highway, including three sections of Vo Van Kiet Highway, the Thu Thiem Tunnel and the East-West Highway's section in District 2.

Vo Van Kiet Highway, which runs from Binh Chanh District's National Highway 1A to District 1, was put into use in 2009.

Part of the East-West Highway's section in District 2, which connects with Ha Noi Highway, was open to traffic late last year.

The entire highway is expected to reduce travel time and provide wide lanes that will help reduce traffic congestion in the inner city.

The highway's construction started in January 2005 with total capital of VND13.4 trillion (US$642 million) from the State budget and loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

To build the highway and tunnel, HCM City had to relocate 6,754 households and 368 offices.