Non-BorderBridges:2 to Sayaboury over Mekong

[Wisarut]

This report mentions existing bridges across the Mekong in Champassack Province, that I haven't heard of before. Funnily enough, I was looking at a map of Champassack a few days back and noted what looked like a bridge between the Chong Mek border post and Pakse. At the time, I decided it was a mistaken marking for a ferry. So I guess that's one bridge in Champassack Bridge. Another could be the bridge to Muang Khong on Don Khong Island, over one branch of the Mekong. It appears to be marked as a bridge. I digress, however!:


For the case of Champasak, there is Lao - Japanese Friendship Bridge across Mekhong, Look at here:

http://www.tripandtrek.com/webboard/photo/20040117080936977977.jpg

[GWR]

Not a very long structure, but on an important link to Luang Prabang, China and Myanmar - about 50 to 60 klicks N of Vientiane:

New Hinheup bridge to forge stronger link

Hinheup bridge in Hinheup district, Vientiane province, is being rebuilt using concrete, the Deputy Governor of Vientiane province, Mr Bounmy Phoutthavong, said last Friday.

The official ground-breaking ceremony took place last Friday, attended by the Minister of Planning and Investment, Mr Soulivong Daravong, and the Japanese Ambassador to Laos , Mr Masaaki Miyashita.

The Japanese government has provided a grant to Laos valued at 933 million yen (about US$8 million or about 80 billion kip) to build the bridge.

It will take 26 months to build; work began in September last year and will finish at the end of 2009.

“Hinheup bridge is considered significant for the socio-economic development process in Laos ,” Mr Soulivong said.

He explained that the bridge site was on National Road No 13 North in Vientiane province, which is a strategic road for connecting the northern and southern parts of Laos , as well as a sub-regional route between Asean and Asian highways.

“ The project, with assistance from the government and the people of Japan , will be a very significant component in helping Laos become a transit country, and to provide an opportunity for the people of the sub-region to communicate, trade and visit each other,” Mr Soulivong said.

Mr Miyashita said at the ceremony the government and people of Laos had been eager to replace the bridge for some time, considering the poor condition of the existing structure, which is nearly 100 years old.

“I'm very pleased that the government of Japan is able to provide assistance in response to the request from the Lao government, and that work has now started,” he said.

The old bridge was built in 1918, and rebuilt after flood damage in 1981 with the help of the Swedish International Development Agency.

“We had known for some time that the bridge structure was too weak to act as a linkage road in the sub-region,” said the head of the construction project, Mr Aloun Khounnavong.

The new bridge will be built about 200 metres downstream from the original structure, and will be 195 metres long and 10 metres wide, with two traffic lanes and metre-wide footpaths on both sides.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update January 15, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_New%20Hinheup.htm

[GWR]

.....

The second bridge would link Thadeua district in Xayaboury province and Pakkhone district in Luang Prabang province. A Korean bank has agreed to provide a low interest loan to the Lao government to build the bridge, according to Mr Phan.

Officials were still analysing the cost of the bridge, but he confirmed that the government wanted to start construction at the end of this year. The bridge will be two lanes wide and of similar design to those in Champassak province.

.....

The road below looks like a more direct 'new' route between Vientiane and Muang Nan (The Laotian 'Nan' that is). Muang Nan lies quite close to the new Thadeua Bridge mentioned above. this should make Xayaboury Province far more accessible:

Nan and Kasy Road to be renovated in four years

(KPL) District of Nan, Luang Prabang province, has announced its improvement of road connecting Kasy district, Vientiane province, which will be carried out by the Triangle Economic Development Co,. with an investment of 28 million dollars, will complete in the next four years.

The signing an agreement on the improvement project between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and The Triangle Economic Development Co,. signatories to the agreement were Mr Inpong Sudkhavong from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and Mr Bounthan Sithsouvong the director of the company among the witness of concerned officials of both sides.

The 68-km road is to be built with asphalt-double-surface to facilitate the transportation between the provinces Vientiane Capital, Sayaboury and Luang Prabang.
http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn12.htm

[GWR]

Laos, Korea to build northern transport link

Laos and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are cooperating to implement the Northern Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) transport network improvement project to increase trade possibilities in the northern provinces.

The government has signed a loan agreement with the Republic of Korea to rebuild roads at a cost of about US$22.5 million.

The agreement was signed last Friday in Vientiane between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Phongsavath Boupha, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Park Jae-hyun.

Mr Park Jae-hyun said at the signing ceremony that Korea is prepared to assist the government of Laos in many fields, especially infrastructure development, which is vital to socio-economic growth.

The ROK recently made public an increase in its official development aid as one of its major diplomatic policies for the upcoming year. “We are going to closely cooperate with the Lao government to execute further projects,” Mr Park said.

The funding for this project was provided by the ROK’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), which is dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation and boosting economic growth in the GMS.

The agreement calls for the improvement of 367 kilometres of Route No 4 between Xieng Ngeun district, Luang Prabang province, and Nakha village, Botaen district, Xayaboury province.

The project also includes an upgrade by the ROK of 59 kilometres of road running from Xieng Ngeun district to Pak Khone village in Luang Prabang province, including a bridge across the Mekong River, linking Luang Prabang and Xayaboury provinces.

The starting date for the work has not yet been set, but is expected to be decided soon, according to a report from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos.

The road construction project follows the successful implementation, with the EDCF, of the Luang Prabang National University Project last month, with a grant of about US$23million.

The ROK government established the EDCF in June, 1987, for the purpose of promoting economic cooperation with developing countries.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update March 17, 2008)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeContent_Laos.html

[GWR]

See previous post

Netherlands supports Mekong bridge
The Netherlands has agreed to help pay for a bridge across the Mekong River to link Sanakham district in Vientiane province with Paklai district in Xayaboury. Subscription article:
More >>> (http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Current/Curren_Netherland.htm)
Non-specific link:
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/