PM approves two new bridges for HCM City    The 4-km cable-stayed Cat Lai Bridge will be built over the Dong Nai River. (Photo vietnamnet.vn) HCM City - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the construction of two cable-stayed bridges, including a 5.7-trillion VND bridge connecting HCM City’s District 2 and neighboring Dong Nai Province to replace the current Cat Lai Ferry. The other bridge, which connects the city’s Can Gio Island District and Nha Be District, will replace the Binh Khanh Ferry.  The PM assigned the Ministry of Transport to add the projects to the city’s master zoning plan for transport development by 2020. The 4-km cable-stayed Cat Lai Bridge, 55 metres high, will be built over the Dong Nai River. The bridge will start at My Thuy in District 2 and end at Phu Huu Commune in Dong Nai Province.  The project aims to ease the overload on the Cat Lai Ferry, which is a key link from HCM City’s eastern areas to Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces.  The 3.4km Can Gio Bridge, designed to be 55 metres above the Nha Be River, has an investment fund of 5.3 trillion VND.  The HCM City’s People’s Committee said the Cat Lai and Binh Khanh ferries had become a burden due to the increase in the number of passengers.  The future bridges are expected to create favourable traffic conditions for socio-economic development of HCM City and neighbouring provinces. The Can Gio Bridge will help shorten the distance and travelling time from the city’s centre to Can Gio District.  The bridge is expected to also boost tourism and economic development in Can Gio. Every day, Cat Lai Ferry carries more than 45,000 passengers, while Binh Khanh Ferry passengers have to spend at least 30 minutes to cross the Nha Be River.-VNA