Simulation shows how engineers will connect 3,400-tonne Saigon River pedestrian bridge arch

All hydraulic lifting equipment, anchoring winch systems and specialized technical teams are fully prepared for the joining operation on Wednesday, according to Dai Dung Corporation, a Vietnamese steel-structure and mechanical-engineering group responsible for the main span's design, fabrication, assembly, transportation and preparation for installation.

The joining operation follows the arrival of the main arch and its supporting framework, with a combined weight of 3,400 metric tons, at Bach Dang Wharf in downtown Ho Chi Minh City at around 3:00 pm on Monday, after a two-day, 124-kilometer towing journey from Dai Dung Shipyard in the Vung Tau area.

The operation is scheduled to begin between 5:00 am and 7:00 am, when construction teams will release the barge's anchors and rotate the vessel to align it with the bridge's installation position.

From 7:00 am to 9:00 am, crews will position and fine-tune the structure before gradually transferring its load in preparation for the joining operation.

The main joining stage is expected to take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, connecting the steel arch to the structures already built on both banks of the river.

Once the barge is aligned with the bridge and secured at four anchoring points, a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) system on board will make fine adjustments to bring the arch into its precise installation position.

The steel structure will then be gradually lowered onto temporary support systems installed at the two bridge abutments, where workers will bolt and weld it into place to secure the structure's position and shape.

From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, construction teams will adjust the barge's ballast, lower its supporting columns and move the vessel according to the installation plan.

The schedule may be adjusted depending on actual site conditions and construction requirements.

Nguyen Huu Hoang, senior project director at Nutifood, a Vietnamese nutrition and dairy products company and the project's sponsor, said the joining operation was one of the project's most important and technically challenging stages.

He explained that the massive steel structure must be positioned with high precision in the middle of the Saigon River and connected to sections already built on both banks.

The main challenges include tidal changes, river currents and weather conditions.

Project teams have spent months studying hydrological data, calculating suitable installation windows and preparing technical plans and contingency measures.

Nutifood and its contractors have also inspected and load-tested the structure and reviewed safety conditions ahead of the operation, with the priority being to complete the joining process safely and accurately.

Dai Dung Corporation is responsible for the design of the bridge's 187-meter-long main steel arch, which stands more than 20 meters high and draws inspiration from the shape of a nipa palm leaf.

The pedestrian bridge, which broke ground in March 2025, has a total investment of around VND1 trillion, funded by Nutifood.

The 720-meter-long bridge will connect Bach Dang Wharf Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in An Khanh Ward.

After the main arch is joined, construction teams will complete the remaining components, including the bridge deck, railings, lighting, sound systems and elevators.

Nutifood and its contractors aim to open the bridge to the public before the 2027 Lunar New Year.