4th Mekong Bridge construction begins this month’s end

VIENTIANE,MACH 2(KPL) The construction of the 4th Lao-Thai Mekong Bridge between Do village, Houai Sai district, Bokeo province of Laos, and Ing village, Chiang Rai province of Thailand, will start in the end of this month, said an official.
Officials from Laos, Thailand and China are believed to witness the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the 4th Mekong River Bridge Project in mid this month and its 30 month-long construction will commence right away, according to Deputy Director of the 4th Lao-Thai Mekong Bridge Construction Project, Mr. Thavone Vorabouth.
The US$ 59 million development project will be financed with two USD 29.5 million packages from Thailand and China, said Mr. Thavone.
The construction of the bridge was given green lights when the Lao government and its counterparts from Thailand and China reached an agreement on providing financial support for the project a few months ago.
“The construction of the fourth Lao-Thai Mekong bridge was delayed for several months as the three governments couldn’t reach an agreement on financing it and the global economy was in recession,” said Mr. Thavone.
Meanwhile, the Lao government has decided to increase its compensation budget from four billion kip to seven billion kip. The amount will be paid to people who are affected by the development project.
The Krung Thon Engineers of Thailand and the Chinese Railway Construction Company are winning contracts for the basic infrastructure development project, according to Mr. Thavone. The fourth Lao-Thai Mekong Bridge is designed to have 480 m length and 14.5 m width.
It is expected that the bridge will facilitate the flow of goods and passengers as well as tourism between Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and China.