The first pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River is ready to open soon. It looks beautiful, but many people wonder if they can reach it safely, so it is worth reading about both the design and the access problem.

The bridge connects Bach Dang Wharf Park on Ton Duc Thang Street with the Thu Thiem Peninsula. Its main span was linked on Oct. 21 after the steel arch was moved from Vung Tau.

The design is inspired by nipa palm leaves and has drawn praise from many readers. They are excited for the bridge’s opening in February and want to visit it soon.

Readers say crossing Ton Duc Thang’s heavy traffic is dangerous and may stop pedestrians from using the bridge. Some call the bridge basically inaccessible for walkers. They suggest building pedestrian overpasses over Ton Duc Thang to make the crossing safe.

Even a praised bridge can be hard to enjoy if people cannot cross the road safely. Safe pedestrian access is needed for the bridge to become a popular place for visitors.