He continued by saying the only things needed were the okay for the budget and construction firms to submit their final tenders. The estimated budget for the bridge’s construction is THB3 billion and the governments of Thailand and Laos have committed to shouldering 50 per cent of the cost each.
The new bridge will be built across the Mekong River and will link Bueng Kan Province in eastern Thailand to Borikhamxay Province in Laos. Mr Phoumy said the bridge would be 1.35kms long and have a width of 17-meters.
Once built, the bridge will be the fifth across the Mekong between Thailand and Laos. Bueng Kan Province is between Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom. Two of the other Mekong bridges are in these locations. Mr Phoumy explained that an extra bridge would facilitate trade and tourism between the two nations.
Timeline for new Thai Lao Mekong river bridge set
News in Asia
The Public Works Division in Laos says building work on a new river bridge to Thailand should begin in 2019. The division’s general manager, Vixay Phoumy, says the design and location details have already been given to the two national governments and the project just needs the green light for it to go ahead.