4th Lao-Thai Mekong Bridge construction given green lights

VIENTIANE ,17 MAY (KPL) - The Lao government has reached an agreement on constructing the fourth Lao-Thai Mekong bridge between Houai Sai district, Bokeo province on the Lao side and Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province on the Thai side.
The signing ceremony was held in Chiang Rai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, on May 14. The signatories to the agreement were Minister of Public Works and Transport of Laos Mr. Sommat Pholsena, and Minister of Communication of Thailand Mr. Sopon Zarum.
On the same day the governments of Laos and Thailand signed a construction agreement with the CR5-KT Joint Venture Group (China’s Railway No. 5 Engineering Group and the Krung Thon Engineers Co) on operating the construction project.
“The bridge we are going to build will not only link Laos to Thailand but with recently-built Road R3 it will also link Thailand, Laos to China by the North-South Economic Corridor,” said Mr. Sommat. “Laos doesn’t border with sea but now Laos is making efforts in developing roads to facilitate its access to the sea.”
The construction of the Fourth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge costs 1.6 billion Thai baht.
The construction is funded by the governments of Thailand and China and is expected to complete by 2012.