The 1,490m-long tunnel, the first of its kind in Vietnam and the largest in Southeast Asia, has three sections, of which the 370m-long underwater section is comprised of four reinforced concrete segments measuring 33m x 9m x90m. One of the four segments, weighing 27,000 tonnes, was successfully settled in the riverbed on March 9. Once completed, the tunnel will have six lanes, enabling cars to run at 60kmph. 

The tunnel is part of the Saigon East-West Highway Project that is being implemented by HCM City and Japanese contractors, with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The agency has committed approximately US$456 million in ODA for the project.

Contractors are working on the installation of the three remaining segments in the river scheduled for April, May and June. When the four are connected with tunnel entrances at both ends, the driveway and the emergency pathways will be paved. It is expected to be open to traffic in mid 2011.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised Japanese contractors for successfully installing the first structure of the tunnel in the riverbed and asked the project management unit and contractors to work closely to complete the project on schedule and meet safety regulations.

When the tunnel is completed, it will help shorten travel time from east to west and ease traffic congestion in the city centre, said Mr Dung.