Thai-Lao
Friendship Bridge to open to traffic in July - VNA,
May 20, 2004
The 2nd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge will open to traffic in July as
67 percent of the construction has completed.
The bridge will connect Thailand's Leoi province with Lao province of
Chayaburi over the Heung River. It is one of Leoi province's border trade
strategies, Governor Samrerng Chuachavalit told Thai National News Bureau.
The bridge will strengthen the relationship between Thailand and Laos,
as well as boost border trade and support the tourism industry between
the two countries. It will be the gateway to Luang Prabang, the world
heritage site.
Bridge
and highway news from TAT - January 21, 2004
From a Tourism Authority of Thailand press release on new bridges and
highways:
2nd THAI-LAOS FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE
The first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River opened in
April, 1994, after a three-year construction period funded by the Australian
Government. Linking the Thai province of Nong Khai to the Laotian capital
of Vientiane, it has become the most important source of visitors to Laos.
This year, construction is to begin on the second Thai-Laos Friendship
Bridge across the Mekong, linking the northeastern Thai province of Mukdaharn
and the western Laotian province of Savannakhet. Scheduled for completion
in 2005, the 1.6 kilometre bridge is being partially funded by the Japanese
government.
...it will link with Highway No. 9 in Laos at Savannakhet and beyond to
the central region of Vietnam, opening up road access to major cities
like the former Vietnamese capital of Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
and the port of Danang.
THIRD THAI-LAOS BRIDGE
A third bridge linking Thailand and Lao PDR across the Huang River, one
of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong, is due to start in early 2004.
Thailand will bear the 70.75 million baht (about US$ 1.8 million) cost
of the 3.3 kilometre bridge which will link the northeastern province
of Loei, Thailand, with the province of Sainyabuli, Lao PDR.
...Although the bridge will not immediately have an international immigration
checkpoint, that is a logical next step for governments to discuss after
it is opened.
...There is yet another bridge across the Mekong River, the Lao-Nippon
Bridge funded by the Japanese, in the Laotian province of Pakse. This
opened in August 2000 but is located entirely in Laotian territory while
the other three are cross-border bridges.
THAILAND-INDIA HIGHWAY LINK VIA MYANMAR
A critical section of the long-standing Asian Highway project has come
closer to completion with an agreement by the governments of Thailand,
Myanmar and India to develop a US$700 million 1,360-km highway linking
the three countries...
The highway will link Moreh in the West Indian state of Manipur with Mae
Sot district, Tak province, in Northwest Thailand, passing through the
historic temple city of Bagan in Myanmar.
The first phase of 263 kilometres from Mae Sot to Thaton in Myanmar will
begin in early 2004 and is expected to cost US$45 million or 1.8 billion
baht...
Bridge
to link Mae Sai and Tachilek - The Nation,
May 20, 2003
New bridge to Laos on the Huang River at Loei Province - MCOT (beware, this is a slow site), February 18, 2002
The bridge that gambling built
- 21:19, April 4, 2002
AFP - Cambodia
opens its longest bridge, links with Thailand
MCOT - Thailand-Cambodia
have new bridge linking the two neighbouring countries
From the Post
website - A new bridge linking Trat province with Ko Kong in Cambodia
will be opened by Supreme Commander Narong Yuthawong, representing the
defence minister, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tomorrow.... The
200-million baht bridge spans the Krang Kruen river. Construction was
funded by Pat Supapa, owner of Casino Koh Kong International.