A groundbreaking ceremony for the third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge linking Laos 's central province of Khammuan and Thailand 's north-east Nakhon Phanom province took place on Friday at both ends of the bridge.

The ceremony was presided over by Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit and Her Royal Highness Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn of Thailand .

The event was also attended by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, and other high-ranking officials.

Thailand has invested more than 1.7 billion Thai baht to build the bridge, with construction work slated to begin in June. It is estimated the bridge will be finished within 36 months...more>>

The Lao side of the bridge is located in Thakhek district's Veuntai village, 13 km from the district centre. In Thailand , the bridge will begin in Nakhon Phanom district's Horm village.

The bridge will consist of prestressed concrete box girders 13 metres in width. There will be two traffic lanes each 3.5 metres wide and two footpaths each 1.25 metres wide.

The bridge itself will be 780 metres long and will link Thailand's national road No. 212 and Lao national road No. 13 south over a distance of 5,225 metres.

The bridge construction agreement was signed by the two governments on December12, 2007. The project will create a twin city between Laos and Thailand under the Ayeyawady-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy.

Dr Thongloun said the bridge would play an important role in government efforts to convert the geographically landlocked country into a land link, to integrate the Lao economy with that of the region and beyond.

“Since Laos was established, the government has considered transportation infrastructure development its top priority in converting our landlocked country into a land link and transit country,” he said.

Dr Thongloun said he appreciated the Thai government and people's financial assistance in investing in the project.

The bridge will link the north-east part of Thailand with central Laos and Vietnam .

Once the bridge is complete, it will boost trade and economic competitiveness by lowering fees currently charged by ferries to transport goods cross the Mekong River , said Khammuan provincial Industry and Commerce Department Director, Mr Singphet Keosopha.

He said the bridge would also save time. The ferry takes at least 30 minutes to cross the river but using the bridge will reduce the time to 10 minutes.

So far, there are two bridges linking Laos and Thailand across the Mekong . One between Vientiane and Nong Khai opened in 1994 and the second, linking Savannakhet province in Laos and Mukdahan province in Thailand , opened in 2006.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans to build four more bridges across the Mekong by 2010, according to a senior ministry official.

The Deputy Director General of the Bridge and Road Department, Mr Phan Phouthavong, said on Friday that the ministry's party committee, which held its congress in November, had agreed to the plan.

Two are set to span the border between Laos and Thailand and the others will cross the Mekong in Xayaboury province, he said....more info

He said the first bridge would link Thakhek district in Khammuan province and Nakhon Phanom in Thailand . The funding would come from the Thai government and a feasibility study was almost complete, with construction set to begin by the end of the year.

The second bridge would link Thadeua district in Xayaboury province and Pakkhone district in Luang Prabang province. A Korean bank has agreed to provide a low interest loan to the Lao government to build the bridge, according to Mr Phan.

Officials were still analysing the cost of the bridge, but he confirmed that the government wanted to start construction at the end of this year. The bridge will be two lanes wide and of similar design to those in Champassak province.

Mr Phan said the government was also negotiating funding to link Huayxai district in Bokeo province with Chiang Khong in Thailand . This project will be part of the superhighway connecting Bangkok , Thailand , with Kunming , China .

Negotiations between Lao, Thai and Chinese officials would take a while so he could not say when the project would begin. However, he said the ministry would do its best to have it finished by 2010.

The fourth bridge will connect Sanakham district in Vientiane province with Paklai district in Xayaboury province. Mr Phan said the government was currently seeking funds from international sources.

He said the ministry's party committee had agreed to try to bridge all major river crossings in Laos by 2010 to ensure easier transportation within the country. But he said this plan could be fulfilled only with the cooperation of all sectors and funding sources.

“This is our plan, but its success depends mainly on getting the necessary funding.”

The construction of the new bridges is part of government efforts to turn Laos from a landlocked to a land-linked country. Mr Phan said that people in Xayaboury province in particular would benefit from a bridge because it would give them greater access to markets for the sale of their produce.

The bridges will also be a great benefit to tourism development as tourists will have more options when travelling to and through Laos.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
Vientianetimes

Progress announced on two more Thai-Lao bridges

BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) - Thailand and Laos affirm that no obstacles will be encountered in building the third and fourth Thai-Lao 'friendhip' bridges respectively. Both will be completed in 2011 as planned.

Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram met Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thonglun Sisulid regarding the progress of the bridges construction at his office in Bangkok.

The third bridge will connect Thailand's northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom with Thakhek in Laos' Khammuan province. The fourth bridge will connect Chiang Mai's Chiangkhong with Huayxai district in the Lao province of Borkaew... more info :.

Following the talk, a spokesperson of the Lao Foreign Affairs Ministry said Thailand will contribute half the construction cost of the Chiang Mai-Borkaew bridge, and Laos has sought a Chinese government loan for the balance.

China's President Hu Jintao earlier confirmed his government's readiness to provide financial support, according to the Lao spokesperson.

Thailand requested nine more months to complete the bridge design, after which construction will begin, and will take about four years.

Laos considers the northern bridge as very important because it connects Chiang Rai and Kunming, a highly important road link for Asean countries in the future.

As for the southern Thai-Lao bridge, land must still be expropriated on the Thai side, but can be done soon, the Lao spokesperson said.

Pending settlement, construction is expected to start at the end of this year or early next year, and is likely to be completed before the fourth bridge.

Tharit Jarungwat, spokesman of Thailand's Foreign Affairs Ministry, said that the Lao Foreign Minister had invited his Thai counterpart to visit Laos and participate in a meeting of the Thai-Lao joint committee.

The Lao government will host the next construction progress report meeting.(TNA)

Source: MCOT