River bridge makes progress

The construction of the third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Khammuan province in central Laos to Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand in the upper northeast region is now five months ahead of schedule.

According to a report in the Vientiane Times, the bridge’s project deputy head, Nongsavan Thammvavong, confirmed that work, which began in May 2009, was nearly 33% completed meaning the overall project was five months ahead of its schedule. According to the original deadline the bridge should be ready by November 2011.

He was quoted: “We’ve just finished the most difficult part to build the four foundation posts in the middle of the Mekong River. This means we can continue with our work in the rainy season without interruptions.”

Electricity poles on the Laos side of the river are being removed along Road No 13 to make way for the access road, and land is being prepared for the construction of a new immigration building. On the Thai side, the foundations are being laid for a new immigration office that is located about 5 km north of Nakhon Phanom town.

The bridge will have two lanes for road traffic, each 3.5 metres wide, and two footpaths, each 1.05 metres wide. It will be built in the same style as the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge linking Vientiane with Nong Khai, but will not have a railway track.