Oct 16, 2012

Watch these spaces

Two huge areas of development in District 2 is the 'Saigon Bridge 2' and the first metro line running from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien.

The Saigon Bridge 2 is being built adjacent to the current (and infamous) Saigon Bridge which was, until the recent opening of the Thu Thiem tunnel, the main entry way into the city from Bein Hoa and basically anyone else coming in on Highway 1. The Highway has been dramatically improved through District 9 on towards Bien Hoa with new bridges and widening of the highway. The new Saigon bridge will be one of the final pieces in improving the traffic flow in and out of the city.

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The current Saigon Bridge seem from D2

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Construction crews on both sides clear the land for the new Bridge 

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The Saigon Bridge entering D2, with the unfinished Thao Dien Pearl apartments in the background, which will eventually have a metro station too. 

Artist Impression: 


Further down the road we have the beginning of the construction of a metro line No1. Wikipedia says completion is scheduled for 2015, however we'll go with the Saigon Times article that goes for 2017 and commencement of operation in 2018. So I'll be back here in 6 years time to write a review of my first ride on the Saigon metro. I hope. 

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Looking at the area of construction adjacent to highway 1

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