Third Lao Thai Bridge
The third Lao Thai bridge over the Mekong river connects Thakhaek, Khammouane province in Laos with Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand.
The bridge's foundation stone was laid on March 6, 2009. The two-lane bridge is 1.4 kilometres long and 13 metres wide. The bridge was built by Thai construction company Italian-Thaiand, and the open ceremony took place on November 11, at 11.11AM, 2011.
Third Lao Thai Bridge
Lao vice president Bounnhang Vorachith together with Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the inauguration of the third Lao Thai Friendship Bridge.
The
Open Ceremony
Lao Prime Minister Thongsing
Thammavong and Thai Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra also attended the event, together with the concern
officers of both countries.
The third Lao-Thai friendship bridge is part of Asian Highway Route
AH15, connecting Thailand's Udon Thani province to Vinh in Vietnam.
This bridge was funded by Thai government with a budget of Bt1,723
million (US$57 million), while the Lao government provided land and tax
privileges for the import of construction machines and materials.
The aim of construction of the Lao-Thai friendship bridge is to improve
the relationship between the people of the two countries, as well as
Vietnam. In term of the economic, social, cultural, trade and
investment fields, the bridge will bring the people of the region
closer and a share better quality of life.
According to the officials of
both sides the bridge will open for
public commuters from Saturday with the crossing fee of Bt50 for
private cars with less than seven seats, Bt100 for passenger cars of
between 7-12 seats, Bt150 for medium-sized passenger cars with 12-24
seats and Bt200 for buses with more than 24 seats.
Laos and Thailand so far have been built three friendship bridge over
the Mekong river and the fourth bridge between Bokeo province,
Laos and Chiang Rai, Thailand, was scheduled to be completed by
the end of 2012. The 44-million-dollar project is a joint venture
between the Thai and Lao governments, with each side contributing 50
per cent of the costs.
Once the fourth bridge is completed Laos and Thailand will have a total of four bridges over the Mekong river from north to south and transform Laos land-locked country to land-linked.
Click
here if you like to learn more about Second Lao-Thai Friendship bridge.
