Sixth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge expected to be constructed in coming months

BANGKOK, January 25 (TNA) - Thailand.s Department of Highways, under the Ministry of Transport, is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a new Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the. 6th of its kind, linking the northeastern Thai Ubon Ratchathani Province with Lao PDR's southern Salavan Province. A Department of Highways senior engineer for survey and design, Pramon Sathapornnanont, told journalists of the update on January 24, noting that the feasibility study has been over 50 per cent completed and is expected to be carried out by July 2018. Pramon said the feasibility study of the 25.8-kilometer-Tied Arch bridge covers the economic, engineering and environmental impact assessment in relevant areas, including Natan and Khemaraj in Ubon Ratchathani. Besides, the ongoing study takes into account the national economic development and international trade of both countries, as well as the compliance with ASEAN Highway Projects and facilitations for cross border logistics systems and public land transportation in line with the AEC standards. The senior official revealed that the Thai and the Lao sides agreed at previous meetings, as part of their bilateral cooperation on joint development projects under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), in which both countries are members together with eight member states, to conduct the feasibility study of the 6th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Project. (TNA) Sent from my iPhone