HCMC downtown boulevard to serve walkers only

A two-phase $23.58 million project to upgrade and reform Nguyen Hue Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City into a square and later a street for walkers only has broken ground on Thursday, the city’s Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 1 said the same day.

In the project’s first phase, a section that is 124 meters long and 63 meters wide of Nguyen Hue Street (from Le Thanh Ton to Le Loi Street) and a part that is 220 meters long and 14 meters wide of Le Thanh Ton Street (from Pasteur to Dong Khoi Street) will be reformed and upgraded.

Accordingly, the entire walkways will be upgraded and paved with an 8 cm- thick layer of granite for vehicles to travel on one direction. Meanwhile, the pavements will be paved with a 6 cm-thick granite.
A new water drain will be built in the area, along with underground electricity and telecommunication cable system.  

The square is estimated to cost nearly VND71.5 billion (US$3.38 million)  and is expected to be completed in March 2015, to coincide with the completion of a monument of late President Ho Chi Minh in front of the office of the city People’s Committee.

In the project’s second phase, which will start in October 2014, another section of Nguyen Hue Street, from Le Loi to Ton Duc Thang Streets, will be upgraded to make the entire Nguyen Hue Street a square for pedestrians.

This work will be 670 meters long and 64 meters wide. All the roadways and roadsides will be paved with granite to serve walkers.

Technical infrastructure works including water supply and drainage, electric networks, public and art lighting systems, art water fountains, public toilets, green space including trees, and some other items will be built.
This phase is estimated to cost VND428 billion ($20.2 million), bringing the total investment in the whole project to VND499.5 billion ($23.58 million).

The work is expected to be completed before April 20, 2015.

The HCMC People’s Committed has proposed that Prime Minister allow the city authorities to designate a general contractor for the project’s second phase in the form of EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction).

(http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/22373/hcmc-downtown-boulevard-to-serve-walkers-only)