Myanmar province of Thachileik will soon be linked by a bridge over the Mekong to the province of Luang Namtha in Laos, a project which is part of the Asia Development Bank plan to build up infrastructure within the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
BANGKOK- The governments of Laos and Myanmar are spending US$18 million to build a bridge linking the two countries across the Mekong River, aiming to boost trade and investment and enhance cooperation in the years to come reported the Vientiane Times, the official newspaper of the Laotian government. The new link is part of a vast plan of upgrading land connections within the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
It will be the first official Friendship bridge constructed between both countries, following the development of other Friendship bridges between Laos and Thailand. The new Lao-Myanmar bridge will further help integrating the three countries along the Mekong River.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge took place last Saturday in Huaykoum village in Long district, Luang Namtha province. Taking part to the ceremony were the Governor of Luang Namtha province Dr Phimmasone Leuangkhamma, the Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr. Sommad Pholsena, and Myanmar’s Minister of Construction Mr. Kyaw Lwin were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The bridge will be 691.8 m. long and 10.9 m. wide and will have two vehicle lanes and two sidewalks. Construction of the bridge began on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony. The bridge is due to be completed by the end of 2015.
Director of the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge Project, Mr. Xaysongkham Manotham, explained that the bridge will be a new symbol of cooperation and solidarity between Laos and Myanmar. It will link Laos’ Road No. 17E and Myanmar’s national Road No. 4. “This bridge will play a significant role in facilitating transport for the people of the two countries, especially in relation to commercial activities. It will also enable us to connect with other countries in the region, especially Vietnam and China, and it can enable further transport links to India and Bangladesh as well,” Mr Xaysongkham said to the Vientiane Times.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
