BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) — Thailand and its closest neighbor landlocked Laos will jointly build a fifth bridge linking the two countries, aimed at boosting economy, trade, investment , tourism and goods transportation.
A government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed Friday, following a Thai cabinet decision on June 4, allowing Thailand’s Highways Department to construct the Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge linking between Bueng Kan and Bolikhamxay Provinces across the Mekong River.
Highways Department director-general Arnont Luangboriboon told journalists after the MoU was signed that Thailand would be responsible to finance 2.63 billion baht while the Lao government would invest 1.3 billion baht.
Total construction cost is 3.93 billion baht and it would be finished within three years.
The Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge will have a four-traffic lane with the width of 2.5 metres and the length on the Thai side of 12.13 kilometres and 2.86 metres on the Lao side.
The bridge across the river has a total length of 1.35 kilometres and customs checkpoints will be on both sides.
It is hopes that tourism between this country and Laos and Vietnam would be further enhanced upon completion of the bridge. (TNA)
