One month to go for 4th Mekong Bridge construction

VIENTIANE,28 JAN (KPL) -The construction of the 4th Mekong River Bridge between Don village, Houai Sai district, Bokeo province of Laos and Ing village, Chiang Rai province of Thailand, will start by the end of next month.
The Bokeo Public Works and Transport Service disclosed yesterday that the 4th Mekong River Bridge Construction Project would soon commence as Laos, Thailand and China had reached an agreement on providing a US$ 43 million budget for the project.
The construction was due last year but it got delayed as the three countries could not agree on the construction budget and was impacted by the global financial crisis, said Mr. Thavone Vorabouth, Deputy Director of the 4th Mekong River Bridge Construction Project.
Four overseas companies have participated in bidding for the construction project and their proposed costs of construction are being considered by officials concerned of the three countries.
Meanwhile the Public Works and Transport Service of Bokeo province says that the Kungthon Company of Thailand and the Chinese Railway Construction Company will probably be considered as project contractors.
Mr Thavone told KPL News journalist that the project would cost about US$ 43 million and the Thai and Chinese governments would jointly invest in the project.
Meanwhile the Lao government will contribute four billion kip as compensation for people whose properties are affected by the project.
The construction of the bridge, 480 m long and 14.5 m wide, is expected to be over in 2013 following its start in 2010.
Upon completion in 2013, the bridge will facilitate goods transport and tourism between Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and China.