Installation of all 17 steel beams of the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which spans the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, is finally complete, according to an announcement released on Thursday by the project's primary investor.

Engineers and workers had spent the past few days finalizing the installation of the steel beams needed for the bridge, which connects District 1 and Thu Duc City, according to Dai Quang Minh Corporation, the project’s main investor.

Construction of the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge is among the few projects municipal authorities have allowed to continue despite strict social distancing measures placed on the city, as long as contractors to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.  

Dai Quang Minh Corporation has coordinated with the project's contractors and consultants to make sure that quality and safety are aligned with local requirements. 

Some of the protocols include a stay-at-work mode in which workers rest and eat meals at the construction site, along with COVID-19 tests for all technical employees and workers.

Work on the cable-stayed Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, which spans nearly 900 meters and is valued at VND3.08 trillion (US$135.6 million), started in 2015. 

Its pylon rises 113 meters above water and it is wide enough for four car lanes, two motorcycle lanes, and pedestrian walkways in both directions.

It is expected that the work on the main span will be complete by the end of this year so that the bridge can be put into service in the second quarter of 2022.

Upon completion, the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge will connect downtown Ho Chi Minh City with Thu Thiem New Urban Area, ease traffic congestion in the area, and promote the sustainable socio-economic growth of the metropolis in general and Thu Duc City in particular. 

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