2ndThai-LaosFriendshipBridge:Open

[ncr]

Anyone has information on the progress of works on the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekhong between Mukdahan and Savannakhet?

Sadly I haven't been to Mukdahan since 2001. I remember this was a long-delayed project. It is part of the Indochina Highway and will ultimately help to connect India, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

In this satellite data quicklook you can make out that the construction has finally started (white areas near the riverbanks in the center of the image):

http://archive.digitalglobe.com/archive/showBrowse.php?catID=10100100036E3609

When is it scheduled to be opened?

Would be nice to have some photos of the works!

[ncr]

Some more information about this was on th 2B main page today (second paragraph below):

International bus between Thailand-Laos
- translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi from Transport Journal, December 16-31, 2004

The implementation of Udornthani-Viangchan international bus has been quite a successful enterprise. It is not surprising that the Transportation Co.Ltd. is going to implement the second Thai-Lao international bus from Ubon Ratchathani to Champasak, after the new Ubonratchathanee bus terminal is equipped with an immigration office and customs house. However, the Lao government has not come up with the counterpart for this project--either the local government of Champasak's state enterprise or the Viangchan Bus State Enterprise Co. Ltd.

After the Friendship Bridge across Mekhong at Mukdaharn is opened in 2006, the third bus route (Mukdaharn - Savannakhet - Danang) will be implemented. So far, the roads from Muang Phin to Seno (130 km) and Daen Savan to Mung Phin (75km) are under construction. The first one from the JICA loan and the 2nd one is from ADB (32 million baht) and Thai Exim Bank (8 million baht) loans.

[Tom]

Made the trip for my former employer from Mukdahan to Savanakhet trough Laos to Danang early last year. The stretch from Savanekhet to Seno has not been renovated as it still was/is in relativerly good shape.
Seno to Muang Phin (130 km) is an absolute flawless 2 lane Higway constructed by Japanes contractors and financed by JICA loan.

Mung Phin to Lao Bao border (75km) was a completely different story: Still under construction by Vietnamese contractors one could see that this stretch of the road will not last very long. I had a chance to speak to some guys from Denmark, employed by the ADB to check the quality of work of the subcontractors. According to them their working standards were a complete deasaster.

Crossing the border (on foot) was easy and smooth and the Vietnamese are really doing a lot on their side, there even is a industrial park (altough only 20-30% seemed to be occupied).

The road from Lao Bao to Dong Ha is undergoing a major reconstruction as well. At Quy Thien you enter Vietnamese Highway number 1 which takes you all the way to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

I turned south for Danang and although the roads are not up to Thai Standards they are of suprisingly good, the old town of Hue even has it's own access-controlled toll-bypass.

While approaching Da Nang I could witness the construction of South East Asia's longest Highway Tunnel (6.255km total), which will eleminate one of Vietnam's most dangerous Highway strecthes, the Hai Van Pass.

More information on the tunnel (which has been opened in the meantime) here: http://haivan.cup.com/home.html

[ncr]

Thanks for the info on the region east of the bridge! Had no idea about that tunnel - very interesting.

I crossed the Hai Van Pass in 1999 on a study trip through Vietnam with fellow students from my university. (That was my first visit to South East Asia, by the way.)

[bobfivehead]

I crossed the Hai Van Pass in 1994 on a bicycle trip. The days ride was from Hai An to Hue. I was tired by the time we got to the pass but I did make the climb. What I learned during the climb was to grab a hold of slow moving trucks, that way you did the pass on your bike while at the same time saving some energy for the rest of the ride.

[Yappofloyd]

What I learned during the climb was to grab a hold of slow moving trucks, that way you did the pass on your bike while at the same time saving some energy for the rest of the ride.
Good idea if your not on the exhaust side (no pun intended).... :) Don't try this at home kids! More info. on bus route today as per earlier posting;

THAI-LAO RELATIONS / NSPORT (sic) TIES Three new bus routes agreed CHEEWIN SATTHA (Bangkok Post, 05/03/05)

Chiang Mai _ Thailand and Laos have agreed to introduce three more regular passenger bus routes next year to boost tourism and transport.

Buses will ply between Champassak in Laos to Thailand's northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani and on to Bangkok, between Savannakhet in Laos to Mukdahan in the Northeast, and from Luang Prabang to Nan in the North. The agreement was reached at a meeting in Bangkok between Piyapan Champasut, director-general of the Land Transport Department, and his Lao counterpart Latanamanee Khunniwong.

Mr Piyapan said the countries had been cooperating on transport since March 1 last year, resulting in an increase of bilateral transport operators from five to 172, running 5,139 vehicles. That includes 11 transit-cargo operators with 761 vehicles.In the past year, Laos' imports via Thailand were worth 1,067 million baht and exports 10,825 million baht. The volumes are expected to rise by 10% next year. The number of land travellers between the two countries increased from 2.4 million in 2003 to 3.3 million last year

[Yappofloyd]

Good to be aware of this but seems a bit strange to place concern on the new bridge when currently the ferry service and boats in the area would be used for the same purpose. As the article states the main problem in addressing trafficking is lax law enforcement.

New bridge `could carry human cargo' PENCHAN CHAROENSUTTHIPAN, BKK Post 19/03/05

A child rights activist yesterday warned of a possible influx of alien workers from Laos and Vietnam following the opening of a Thai-Lao bridge in Mukdahan province.Panchan Puangsantia, of the Foundation for Children Development, said authorities should start considering this possibility before the new bridge over the Mekong river is opened for use.

The new bridge is expected to be completed this year, linking the northeastern province of Mukdahan with Savannakhet in Laos. Ms Panchan, who conducted a study on alien worker management in Mukdahan, said human traffickers were active in the area which was a gateway to Thailand and third countries.

A large number of Lao people cross the border into Thailand daily at Mukdahan. Construction of the new Thai-Lao bridge is financed by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation as part of a Greater Mekong Subregion economic cooperation programme.

The concern was raised at a seminar on Ms Panchan's alien worker management study with emphasis on human rights protection. The study was funded by the International Labour Organisation and the National Human Rights Commission. Participants said lax law enforcement was to blame for violations of migrant workers' human rights.

Vithit Mantraporn, Chulalongkorn University's law faculty, said while Thailand's existing laws on migrant labour were up to international standards, authorities often failed to comply with them. He said national security should not be used as an excuse and achieved at the expense of human rights.

Surichai Wankaew, Chulalongkorn University's political science faculty, called on the government to allow interest groups to have a say in policy-making to guarantee effective implementation. He also urged the public to change its perception about migrant workers, saying they helped drive the Thai economy.

Sompong Sakaew, a Rak Thai Foundation staff member, said migrant workers were being exploited in several ways by brokers and authorities. False identification paper rackets preying on new arrivals posed one of the most serious threats, he said.

[ncr]

From the Bangkok Post, 14 April 2005:

TRANSPORT

Fuel price rise keeps popular bus link in red

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK, SARITDET MARUKATAT

One year after a fanfare launch, Thai-Lao bus lines have hit a snag as operators cry foul about rising operation costs. Despite the service's increasing popularity, the Transport Co of Thailand and the state-owned Bus Enterprise of Laos, which run the service, are under financial pressure after recent oil price hikes.

The firms have provided a daily service on two routes from Udon Thani to Vientiane and Nong Khai to the Lao capital via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge since April 23 last year. Passengers pay 80 baht each on the 77-kilometre-long Udon Thani-Vientiane route and 30 baht on the 27-kilometre-long Nong Khai-Vientiane line.

The service - the first direct bus link between the countries - was opened by Deputy Transport Minister Nikorn Chamnong and his Lao counterpart, Sommath Polsena.

"When the two countries set the bus fare on the route, petrol prices were lower than they are today", said Khamphoun Temerath, managing director of the Lao bus firm. Mr Khamphoun and Therdsak Setthamanop, director-general of the Highways Department of Thailand, said the Nong Khai-Vientiane service was still in the red, while the Udon Thani line made only small profits.

Transport Ministry officials from the countries, who have met twice to talk about the problem, have now offered to waive the bridge fee of 100 baht on the Thai and Lao sides to cut operators' costs.

Chirute Visalachitra, director of the International Transport Division of Thailand, said Thailand had no problem with the proposal but the Lao government was reluctant to approve it.

"If the negotiations on lifting the bridge fee are successful, the bus operators can survive", he said. The Lao side was not keen, fearing other users would also call for exemptions. However, a Lao official at the Communications, Transport, Post and Construction Ministry said the Lao government had agreed in principle to waive the fee, but wanted more talks with agencies involved.

[Yappofloyd]

A little update on what is driving the new bridge...

Thailand signs deals with Laos, Cambodia
Pacts to give a boost to cross-border trade (BKK Post , 05/07/05)


Thailand yesterday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to facilitate cross-border trade with Cambodia and Laos under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Cross-Border Transportation Agreement. Cambodia and Vietnam also signed a similar document.

The three agreements require the signatory nations to introduce single-stop border inspections, and to simplify transportation and visa procedures.

Thailand agreed to open trade at the Aranyaprathet-Poipet crossing to Cambodia and at Mukdahan-Savannakhet crossing to Laos from the start of 2006 at a signing ceremony in Kunming, southwestern China, where leaders of the six GMS nations began a two-day summit yesterday, dpa quoted Xinhua news agency as saying.

Cambodia and Vietnam agreed to a similar arrangement at the Bavet-Moc Bai border crossing from mid-2006.

``The memorandums of understanding signed today will enable the implementation of the GMS Cross-Border Transport Agreement at strategic border crossings to accelerate cross-border trade and investment in the GMS,'' said Jin Liqun, vice-president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

``Addressing `software' issues, such as cumbersome formalities and trans-shipment of cargo at the border, is essential to increase efficiency, reduce costs and maximise the economic benefits of improved transport networks,'' Mr Jin was quoted as saying in an ADB statement.

The broad purpose of the GMS summit, which is backed by the ADB, is to ``intensify GMS regional cooperation with a view to realising the GMS vision of a sub-region that is prosperous, equitable and more integrated''.

Note: full article not posted

[Yappofloyd]

An early report on a construction tragedy on the nearly complete bridge

Thai-Lao bridge
Published on Jul 23 , 2005 The Nation

RESCUERS ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR BODIES OF ENGINEERS AND STAFF WHO FELL INTO THE MEKONG RIVER ...AFTER THE THAI-LAO FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE PARTIALLY COLLAPSED YESTERDAY. A JAPANESE ENGINEER AND EIGHT OTHER STAFF... INCLUDING THAIS... FELL INTO THE MEKONG RIVER AFTER A CONCRETE BEAM BROKE LAST NIGHT. RESCUERS CONTINUED TO SEARCH FOR THE VICTIMS AMIDST HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG CURRENTS....BUT NO BODIES HAVE BEEN FOUND. 14 OTHERS WERE INJURED.

THE JAPANESE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR HAS CALLED AN URGENT MEETING TODAY... BUT HAS NOT YET RULED ON THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. POLICE WILL CALL ON ENGINEERING EXPERTS TO HELP INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT MONDAY. THE THAI-LAO FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE CONNECTED THAILAND'S NORTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF MUKDAHAN AND LAO'S SAWANNAKATE DISTRICT . MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF THE PLANNED CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED.THE 2.5 BILLION BAHT BRIDGE IS FINANCED BY THE JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION... WITH THAILAND AND LAOS SHARING HALF THE CONSTRUCTION COST. THE BRIDGE IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN EARLY NEXT YEAR.

[Yappofloyd]

A photo (http://tinypic.com/9au1k6.jpg) of the bridge from the BKK Post article.

Eight missing after crane collapse Weather hampers rescue efforts
By Churot Treephapakorn (BKK Post 24/07/05)

Heavy rain that hit this northeastern border town yesterday hampered rescue efforts to find the eight men missing in the Mekong river after a large crane being used in the construction of the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge collapsed on Friday. The accident took place at about 4.45pm on Friday when a crane being used to airlift concrete slabs for installation suddenly snapped. The falling pieces of equipment hit about 30 engineers and workers at the construction site.

Hiroshi Tanaka, 49, the Japanese chief engineer, was killed instantly. Two other Japanese engineers identified as Oanoki and Yanase, three Thais named Preeda Muangkhot, Sinual Noyphan and Anon Samphaokaew, and six Lao men identified as Keo-oudon Phonthita, Kaew Vanvisay, Veelavong, Kanya and Viengsamay were injured. Keo-oudon, who was seriously injured, died yesterday at Sapphasithiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani.

The eight missing people were swept away by the strong currents of the river. They included two Japanese engineers Nidoru Tanadu, 34, and Hanaka, 40, a Filipino engineer identified only as Tom, 35, and four Thais and one Lao worker. Three of the four Thais were identified as Thong-on Thongmaha, 29, Cherdsak Inthasen, 30 and Set Chairap, 29.

Thai and Lao authorities as well as frogmen from the navy's Mekong River Peace-keeping Unit scoured both sides of the river yesterday in search of the missing. Kongchia Sianglam, a Thai worker at the scene, said he heard a thunderous bang when the crane snapped and saw about 30 workers fall into the river. Initial damage was estimated at over 100 million baht, said Songsak Paecharoen, a Highways Department engineer who is overseeing the project.
The bridge is being built by the Japanese construction firm Sumitomo.

Due for completion in late 2006, the two-kilometre-long bridge will link Mukdahan and Savannakhet in Laos. It is being financed by a long-term loan of 2.8 billion baht to Thailand and Laos by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The bridge is expected to boost economic growth by serving as a key export route for Thailand's agriculture-based Northeast.
It is part of an east-west corridor project sponsored by the Asian Development Bank to boost trade and tourism in the Mekong region.

Thailand and Laos opened the first Friendship Bridge linking Thailand's Nong Khai with Vientiane in 1994. Sumitomo and JBIC were considering sending experts from Japan to examine and assess the damage

[Wisarut]

Now, 8 Dead ... and one still missing .... :(

[ncr]

The Voice of America (http://www.voanews.com/lao/2005-08-30-voa2.cfm) says:

Laos: 2nd Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Will Be Finished on Schedule
By Songrit PhonNgern
29/08/2005

Lao and Thai officials maintain that the second bridge linking their countries over the Mekong river will be completed as scheduled, even though construction was setbacked when a crane collapsed on the bridge in July due to strong wind and bad weather, killing a Japanese engineer and nine others.

The second Friendship Bridge, linking Savannakhet and Mukdahan, is scheduled to be completed in late 2006.

[ncr]

I was in Mukdahan one day during the New Year holidays (2nd January) and got a glimpse of the new bridge from the ferry pier/river promenade in town. There was a guy renting out binoculars (5 Baht/5 minutes), and I was able to count at least 17 pillars; they have started laying the spans from the western (Thai) side and proceeded to pillar no. 4. Also, pillar no.6 had an interesting spider-like yellow contraption (crane/gantry) sitting on it.

So it looks like the construction should be finished by the end of this year or early 2007.

A check on Google Earth reveals that under this angle (not perpendicular) the bridge length over water is almost 1600m (river width at this position = 1400m). For comparison, the (first) Friendship Bridge in Nongkhai is just 600m over water.

In these images the bridge can be seen in a distance of about 3.5 km upstream.

from the pier (http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/263/bridge15xw.jpg)
from the north end of the promenade (http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8379/bridge27yf.jpg)
full-res (http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8334/bridge35le.jpg)

[Yappofloyd]

Khun ncr, thanks for posting this update as I had been wondering how the bridge was progressing after the accident last July. I didn't realise that the span of the bridge was so long. There is a map (http://tinypic.com/ayvhoz.gif) on another thread (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1087) which shows what a key link to Vietnam (Hwy 9) that the bridge will create.

[ncr]

Khun ncr, thanks for posting this update as I had been wondering how the bridge was progressing after the accident last July.My pleasure. :)

That's what I love about this forum - we can keep each other updated about the progress of certain constructions, mass transit projects or any other developments, be it through photos, written accounts or simply links to press articles that we would otherwise miss. For example, you also posted your reports of the trips on the new boat lines and the inspection tour of the Phetkasem BTS extension.

[ncr]

Today's Nation carried this photo (http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4329/friendship27yf.jpg) with accompanying optimistic text.

Bu tell me, is that a remainder of the accident to the right side of the scaffold next to the pillar on the left? Looks very much like a bridge span that fell into the river due to the collapse of the crane?

[jpatokal]

While approaching Da Nang I could witness the construction of South East Asia's longest Highway Tunnel (6.255km total), which will eleminate one of Vietnam's most dangerous Highway strecthes, the Hai Van Pass.

More information on the tunnel (which has been opened in the meantime) here: http://haivan.cup.com/home.html
I had a chance to travel through the Hai Van Tunnel last weekend (twice, in fact, going both ways) and it is indeed pretty nice, at least as far as tunnels go, which isn't very far in my book but hey... however, while I'm sure Tet played its part, it was almost completely deserted with very, very few cars indeed using it. Indeed, the toll for an ordinary car is VND 25,000 (a little under US$2), which is a lot of money by Vietnamese standards -- even in Thailand, could you imagine many drivers forking out 100B for a tunnel, even if it does shave 20km and 30-60 min off your travel time?

And yes, the roads around Hue, Hoi An and Danang were indeed surprisingly good, up to Thai standards and notably head and shoulders above the roads in Cambodia or Laos. There is still quite a lot of work to be done until National Highway 1 (Hanoi-HCMC) really becomes a highway though, oftentimes the road passes straight through villages and hamlets with kids running in the street chasing after bird flu-infected chickens etc. And Vietnamese driving habits remain as atrocious as ever :eek:

[jerryfin]

I was at the site on February 9 and noted the formal completion date is December 2006. However, I doubt this can be achieved...even though a large number of precast bridge sections are stocked on site. Of the approx. 17 total spans, erected are only 7 spans (3 entire and 8 half spans). They still need to complete the two support towers either end of the central 7-span section. There is a lot to do to complete this 1.4 km water span...although the approaches are largely complete.
The location of the west bank at the bridge is:
Lat: 16 deg, 36 min, 4.32 sec North
Long: 104 deg, 44 min, 8.52 sec East

February 9 photos should be available at:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerryfin/album?.dir=/d7ba
You will note a span section still sticking up out of the water, left from the accident I assume...unless a span section has been dropped since.

[ncr]

Thanks Jerry! (May I now confer the title "2B residing bridge nut" on you? ;) )

That's what we've been waiting for - as I didn't have time/opportunity to get that close to the site myself in early January.

In addition to your Yahoo photo album, we should also mention the 2Bangkok gallery (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Bridge/Mukdahan/mukdahan.shtml) featuring some of your shots.

[jerryfin]

Ok, NCR, yes!

[ncr]

hehehe....

[ncr]

Today I found some older construction pics here (http://www.southeastasiatimes.com/mukbridge/index.htm).

[jerryfin]

I visited the bridge on April 26 and saw great progress since last visit on February 12. In February there were about 9.4 span widths(all the unfinished parts of the spans equalled the equivalent of 9.4 spans) to be erected. Last week, only about a total of equivalent of 4.6 spans remained to be erected. They have also made good progress erecting the two towers at the wider spans. My photos are at:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerryfin/album?.dir=/c6a0scd

[ncr]

Thanks Jerry.......

but say, how often do you go to Mukdahan? ;)

[jerryfin]

I visit the area now about every 3 months...fly to Ubon or Khon kaen and take a car from the airport...cheaper than driving all the way from Bangkok. Mukdahan is quite pleasant and habitable. It now has a Tesco Lotus, Pizza Company and KFC...as does Roi Et and Nakhon Phanom(minus the Pizza). Mahasarakhan has a Tops and Pizza Company...and is in high definition on Google Earth. This trip I also visited the Emerald Triangle(Thai/Laos/Cambodia meeting point) for the first time...14.20.14 North, 105.12.32 East. It's one hell of a low-key tourist spot...just a little clearing in the jungle with a gazebo and a couple of Laos cigarette vendors.

[ncr]

Old Isaan hand, eh? :cool:

Well, me too, I've been to all Northeastern provinces. Major attractions visited include Khao Yai, Phimai, Khao Phanom Rung, Khao Phra Wiharn (beeeeaaauutiful view!), That Phanom (several times), Pha Taem cliff and the two-coloured rivers at Khong Chiam.......

The Emerald Triangle is one place I'd still like to see, along with Ban Chiang archeological site and Phu Kradung.

I sort of have a special connection with Mukdahan as I spent quite some time there (and yes, it is a lovely town) and Nakhon Phanom in 2000/2001 for field work related to my thesis (driving around all districts in a rented van and taking notes and GPS readings in the scorching heat all day). I remember back then there was already talk about the fabulous Mekhong Bridge to Savannakhet --- in the hotel lobby they had a model on display in a glass case, but one wondered whether it was ever going to be built........

I visit the area now about every 3 months...fly to Ubon or Khon kaen and take a car from the airport...cheaper than driving all the way from Bangkok.Actually you could also fly to Nakhon Phanom (though no LCCs operating there, only TG, as far as I know).

Mahasarakhan has a Tops and Pizza Company...and is in high definition on Google Earth.Yeah funny, they have high-res imagery for Sarakham (which isn't actually that small and has a university, btw). It's possible to see the house of my girlfriend's aunt in a village just outside the town..... :)

This trip I also visited the Emerald Triangle(Thai/Laos/Cambodia meeting point) for the first time...14.20.14 North, 105.12.32 East. It's one hell of a low-key tourist spot...just a little clearing in the jungle with a gazebo and a couple of Laos cigarette vendors.How to go there? I think I had read before that it is quite a remote and inaccessible place and also that it's a restricted area and you needed a permission or something, and they didn't really welcome visitors there.

But maybe that has changed in the meantime?

[Wisarut]

I've been CHogn Mek CHeck Point as well as Khao Phrawiharn ....:)

[jerryfin]

I found Chong Mek last year...very commercial but you can easily cross the border and shop in Laos at the stalls there without any paperwork/passport/visas.

When you visited Khao Phra Wihan, were you able to go all the way across the border and to the temple? I went three times and only once was able to get to the temple...but well worth the 3(?) km walk.

I only fly to places that have a Budget rent-a-car office...Khon Kaen, Udon, Ubon and Phitsanulok. Khon Kaen I find to be the most central and convenient. I gave up using LCCs a while back..it's just not worth the hastle...Thai is always on time and easy to book. But I do like Nok Air...I went last year to Chiang Mai on Nok and the flight was cancelled..so I was transfered to Thai flight leaving at the same time. Coming back, again cancelled, so I agreed to come back next day and because I didn't complain, they "upgraded" me to Super Nok. Next day, again cancelled, but they transfered me to a Thai 747, also leaving at the same time...but in Business class...as I was Super Nok...yes, Nok is good!

This is a link to my photos taken last week at the Emerald Triangle...plus a shot of a brass plate buried in the road at the new campus of Kasetsart University at Sakhon Nakhon(according to the plate, my GPS is 25 meters off and Google Earth is a whole block off!). Also a shot of Ramkamhaeng's new campus at Udon Thani. At the triangle, there is a gazebo with three signs with the name of the three countries written in the three languages around the outside, facing the three relevant countries that make up the triangle.
To get there, take road 2248 that runs from Nam Yeun to Na Chaluai. When you are 25 kms from Nam Yuen and 13 kms from Na Chaluai, you will see the blue signs pointing out the turn off to the triangle. It is often signposted along 2248. From the junction, you drive about 16 kms on a new road, past a reservoir and into the jungle. Near the end is an open-air museum display at another reservoir and a couple of military camps. The camps are not quite finished and look as if they will be check points and possible hindrances... When I first tried to get there 2 years ago, the road was blocked by military at the 2248 junction. From the end of the new road, the way suddenly changes into a jungle track....smooth and passable by saloon car. When arriving at the gazebo/triangle after 3 kms, there was just one Laotian cigarette vendor. Apparently at weekends, many vendors collect there to service Thai trippers. There was no other car there until a Bangkok taxi showed up! The taxi was already taken by it's owner and family...so maybe it's not that good a place to hail a taxi, as he wasn't using the meter!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerryfin/album?.dir=/7066scd

There is also a picture I took from the beer "tent" at the Roi Et weekly cattle market. Also a shot of a sign post pointing to Ban Koksi.

[ncr]

Thanks for the description and pics!

I found Chong Mek last year...very commercial but you can easily cross the border and shop in Laos at the stalls there without any paperwork/passport/visas.Oh really? I crossed the border and went on to Pakse in December 2001. So I was not aware of that 'no visa required' arrangement (and it was probably introduced at a later time).

When you visited Khao Phra Wihan, were you able to go all the way across the border and to the temple? I went three times and only once was able to get to the temple...but well worth the 3(?) km walk.Well, I went in April 2001 (bus from Si Sa Ket to Kantharalak, songthaew-truck to Ban Phum Charon, and motorbike into the National Park) and yes, I was able to go all the way. I had another small problem, though: I was quite late, arriving in the middle of the afternoon, and after my visit to the temple, it was close to dusk and there was no more local bus from Ban Phum Charon back to Kantharalak. No real problem, of course - you can always organize yourself a means of transport in Thailand, after all. But it meant I had to ride some 30 km on the back of a motorbike before continuing to Si Sa Ket.

I only fly to places that have a Budget rent-a-car office...Khon Kaen, Udon, Ubon and Phitsanulok. Khon Kaen I find to be the most central and convenient.Hmmm, doesn't sound like a bad idea. How about the rates, are they comparable to what you pay in Bangkok? Lower? Higher?

Also a shot of a sign post pointing to Ban Koksi.What's the significance of Ban Koksi, and where is it? :confused:

[jerryfin]

Budget rates in the provinces are the same as in Bangkok. A big Vigo pickup, for example costs Bht900/day at the weekly rate. They are good vehicles and rates include full insurance..even little scratches that they used to charge you Bht5,000 for, are now not charged and included. A Honda Jazz or City, is around Bht1,200/day.

Ban Koksi sounds such a non-Thai word, it just stood out as something that might appear in a Russian travel brochure. It is somewhere around Yasothon...I think.

[Wisarut]

The latest news: The Bridge across Mekhogn at Mukdaharn is 82% Done

Now, the considered the 3rd Bridge (Huay Sai - Chaiang Khong) and
the 4th Bridge (Tha Khaek - Nakhon Phanom) with oan from ADB ....

REF:
http://www.manager.co.th/IndoChina/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000081750

[GWR]

Well, this is what 'The Nation' had to say today. But I would not take it for granted. Watch this space for further (and probably more accurate) reader comments and governmental updates: -

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30009251

Second Lao-Thai bridge to be opened in Dec



The second bridge linking Thailand and Laos across the Mekong River which is a common border will be opened in December, Radio Vientiane announced on Friday.

Construction on the bridge, linking Mukdaharn province in northeastern Thailand to Laos' southern province Suvannakhet, began in December, 2003, and will 100 per cent completed by this December.

The project was partly financed by the Japanese government, costing about US$69 million, of which the Lao government financed half of it

It will be the second bridge to link Thailand and Laos across the Mekong River.

The first, the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, was completed with Australian assistance in the early 1990s, linking Vientiane with Nong Khai province.

[jerryfin]

I was at the bridge last Saturday and believe it is very possible to have the bridge open by December. There are only two small gaps near the Laos bank that are not yet closed...working at night now. Also there is feverish activity on the customs/immigration buildings on the Thai side...now needing roofing only and finishing the parking area. Road signs to Savannaket already installed on the main highway (Road #212) past the entrance to the customs/immigration. This is a link to some pictures of the site last Friday night/Saturday morning:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerryfin/album?.dir=/4e6fscd

[Wisarut]

The Second Friendship Bridge will be opened on December 20, 2006

More details is here: http://w3.manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000121076

[ncr]

Sounds good, Khun Wisarut.

So Jerry...... are you planning to return to Mukdahan anytime soon to give us an update? ;)

[jerryfin]

Yes, I plan to take a look at the end of October and cross on December 21!! I am assuming it will be a similar process to that at Nong Khai and cost $30 for the Laos visa using a shuttle bus.

[jerryfin]

The bridge is open to construction traffic and now just adding railings and lights...should be open on schedule next month. The customs/immigration "shed" (palace?) is complete. The two towers with diagonal braces are purely for decoration (in my opinion) and look pretty good except when viewed from along the road from where they are too thin to be serving any real support function. Photos at this reference were taken last Friday:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jerryfin/album/576460762335055883

[Yappofloyd]

Great news that the bridge is finished and will open on time in Dec. I will look forward to using it next year. Thanks for the updates Khun jerryfin.

[ncr]

A short news item from The Nation, 11 November 2006:

New Lao-Thai Bridge

Second bridge opens December 20

A second bridge spanning the Mekong River to connect Thailand and Laos is to open December 20, Radio Vientiane announced yesterday. The second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge will connect Thailand's northeastern province of Mukdahan to Laos' southern city of Savannakhet.

The first friendship bridge was opened on April 8, 1994, between the northeastern Thai city of Nong Khai and Laos' capital Vientiane. More than a decade after its opening, traffic on the Nong Khai-Vientiane bridge remains modest. - Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

[jerryfin]

"traffic on the Nong Khai-Vientiane bridge remains modest"....In my opinion that is because private cars/tourists cannot cross in one vehicle and have to use a transit bus. Rental cars do not allow cross-border travel either. Operating trucks with steering on the "wrong" side is also inconvenient at best and beyond Vientiane there are few commercial destinations. This bridge also has a rail line that is not used.

However, at Mukdahan, the existing ferry requires a long detour around a long, thin island in the river. The customs/immigration area is huge and spacious and well laid out. Should be more attractive to truckers. But the greatest advantage to the new bridge is the commercial potential just across the river and into Vietnam (little more than 100 kms from Mukdahan). Also if some truckers got together with fleets of tractor units (with steering on the appropriate side) on either side and semi trailers that could be used for onward travel, that would get over the "steering on the wrong side" problem.

[Wisarut]

Now, Princess Sirindhorn is goign to make an official opening of the Friendship Bridge Across mekhogn at Mukdaharn on December 20, 2006 ... Please get yo camera Ready :) :D ;) :rolleyes: :p

[jerryfin]

Thanks for info..I will go there again on 29th Dec..

[ncr]

A casino in the Lao P.D.R.....?

Thai-Lao bridge opening sparks crime fears (http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Dec2006_news06.php) - Bangkok Post, 19 December 2006

ONNUCHA HUTASINGH

Mukdahan - Local authorities have expressed concern over the possibility of an increase in illegal activities following the opening of the new Thai-Lao bridge across the Mekong river. The government hopes that the bridge, set to open tomorrow, will help boost the economy in the region. However, police officers and businessmen have begun to look into the side-effects from the bridge that links Mukdahan's Muang district and Savannakhet province in southern Laos. The 2.7-kilometre bridge is part of an ambitious plan to build an overland link from Burma, Thailand, Laos, to the coastal city of Danang in central Vietnam. The governments of the countries involved also hope it will facilitate international business and investments. But many fear there will be an increase in crime, drug trafficking and illegal immigration in the area.

The bridge is a double-edged sword as it could open a new route for drug traffickers and illegal migrants from Laos and Vietnam, said Mukdahan checkpoint inspector Pol Lt-Col Nitirat Bamroongsuk. ''The bridge will see more gangsters travelling by road,'' she said. It could prompt drug gangs to change their mode of drug transport from water to road. They could easily smuggle drugs in their cars, into Thailand, she added. Mukdahan is notorious for drug trafficking from Laos. Smuggling, which also includes other illegal materials such as processed wood, is usually done via water-borne transport because the province has a long water front, totalling 72 km, facing the Mekong river - the natural border between Thailand and Laos. Illegal labourers could also easily come into Thailand by posing as tourists, Pol Lt-Col Nitirat said. Police have just deported a group of 10 Vietnamese illegal workers who turned up with tourist visas. They worked illegally in a factory in Pathum Thani before they were arrested and deported, she said.

More importantly, a plan to build a casino in Savannakhet, less than 2 km from the bridge, could also lead to a new worry as the gambling business could be a source of crime. The casino is scheduled to open in the next 18 months. ''It would affect national security, aggravate drug problems, and raise concerns over the the safety of people's lives and assets,'' said Mukdahan Chamber of Commerce secretary-general Apichart Srisawas. [oho... the root of all evil for sure!]

Although some people anticipate unpleasant changes, provincial officials are looking on the bright side and expect the bridge to bring more jobs. Some villagers dismissed the possibility of any kind of gain from the bridge opening. ''The bridge hasn't give any new opportunities to the villagers. Instead, its construction made my house full of dust,'' said Ban Song Pier village head Orapan Kampan.

[ncr]

NEW VENTURE

TAGS signs Lao contract (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/14/business/business_30021493.php) - The Nation, 14 December 2006

Thai Airports Ground Services (TAGS) is diversifying into property development, with a first contract from Laos to develop a business, entertainment and educational centre. Managing director Anupong Rojanakarin said the company signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with the Lao government. Under the agreement, TAGS will be in charge of turning a 2,680-rai area into a special economic zone called Sawan City.

"Sawan City is in a good location, located near the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge that links Mukdahan province with Laos," Anupong said. "On one side is the Mekong River and the other side faces Road No 9 - the strategic route of the East-West Economic Corridor that is linking four countries: Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam."

For the project, TAGS will invest a total of US$38 million (Bt1.37 billion) throughout the 10-year development period, which will start from next year. The development is split into three phases. The first will cover an area of 1,200 rai, which will accommodate an integrated entertainment complex, a hotel, a duty-free shop, shophouses, a shopping arcade and lakes for leisure activities. In the second phase covering 780 rai, TAGS will build housing, parks, health centres, shophouses and office buildings. The third phase, covering the remaining 700 rai, will develop additional accommodation, a world-class golf course, health centre, shophouses and an office building.

Upon completion, the city expects to employ at least 50,000 and plans to draw tourists to Laos. It is estimated that five years from now, the tourism business in Laos will generate $700 million, compared with $90 million at present, Anupong said. The number of tourist arrivals is expected to grow to two million in 2010 from one million in 2006. "On completion, Sawan City will be a major business centre in Indochina. Meanwhile, it will also be an international educational centre, as the city will encompass an education park to accommodate the education of students from Laos, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam," Anupong said.

The development marks a major business diversification for TAGS, the provider of ground services at Don Muang International Airport. The company earlier failed to win the ground-services contract at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

[Wisarut]

Khun NCR, thsoe poloiticians and local mafia BADLY want casino at the Border as the way to do the following things ...

1) Reap the benefit from much less restriction on gabling business
2) Money Laundering
3) \strike a deal with top brasses and Elites who run the other side of Border where border casinos situate

[Wisarut]

After the Open Ceremony of the 2nd Friendship Bridge at Mukdaharn by Princess Sirindhorn on Decemebr 20, 2006, Lao Prime Minister has asked Thai Prime Minister to build the following rialway lines for Laos -

1. Ning Khai - Tha Nalaeng - Wiangchan
(SO far the first 3.5 km is now under construction, further 9 km from Tha Nalaeng to Wiangchan will be under consideration)

2. Wiangchan - Pak Xan - Tha Kahek. This line is to make a connection with Nakhon Phanom

3. Tha Khaek - Vung Ahn Port (Vietnam) to make a connection with Vietnam. Tha Khaek is a port opposite of Nakhon Phanom.

The initial phase will be meter gauge to connect with Thai Railway and Standard Gauge will be added on to make a connection with China.



Furthermore, Thai Prime Minister and Lao Prime Minister have signed Memorandom of Understandings for the 3rd Friendship Bridge and the 4th Friendship Bridge Across Mekhong.

The 3rd Friendship Bridge will link Tha Khae with Nakhon Phanom while the 4th Friendship Bridge will link Huay Sai (Boh Kaeo province) with Chiang Khong
(Chiang Rai province).

The 3rd and the 4th Friendship Bridge should have railway track as the way to stimulate both contry to build the Railway line

These 2 Bridges will also compell Thai govenrnment to revive Bua Yai - Mukdaharn - Nakhon Phanom and Denchai - Chiang Rail - Chiang Khong which have been frozen for many years. However, Thai governemtn would have to ask either JBIC or China to finance these 2 railway projects.

[jpatokal]

Not so fast (http://www.bangkokpost.com/201206_News/20Dec2006_news02.php)!
However, after today's official opening, the bridge will not open for transnational traffic until next month, according to the Highways Department's acting director-general Songsak Phaecharoen.
So the bridge is "open", you just can't use it. :mad:

[jpatokal]

FYI, I wrote up a stublet on the 2nd Bridge on Wikipedia. Expand away:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Thai-Lao_Friendship_Bridge

[Yappofloyd]

So apparently the bridge opened for cross border traffic yesterday with a bus service.

Buses using new bridge to Laos BKK Post 10/01/07
The Transport Co has begun operating regular bus services over the new Mekong river bridge linking Mukdahan and Savannakhet province in Laos. The second Thai-Lao Friendship bridge was officially opened on Dec 20, but opened for regular traffic yesterday. Wuthichart Kallayanamit, acting president of the state-owned company, said the service is being run jointly with the Lao state bus firm.

The one-way fare for the 17 kilometre trip on board a 45-seat air-conditioned bus is 45 baht. The bus will make eight to 12 trips a day from 7am to 5.30pm, departing from the Mukdahan and Savannakhet bus terminals, with a stop at the foot of the bridge. Passengers must carry a passport and pay 10 baht each for the border crossing.

The Transport Co has been operating international bus services from Udon Thani and Nong Khai to Vientiane over the first Thai-Lao Friendship bridge since April 2004. A passenger service between Ubon Ratchathani and Pakse township in the southern Lao province of Champassak started early last year. A fifth route will open soon, Luang Prabang-Nan-Chiang Mai, said Mr Wuthichart.

[Yappofloyd]

Transport ties likely to improve Less paperwork needed for crossings By Wallapa Treeprapakorn Bkk Post 26/08/07

The cross-border transportation and distribution of goods between Laos, Vietnam and Thailand is expected to improve following the recent signing of the East-West Corridor pact. Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said the second Thai-Lao bridge linking Mukdahan and Savannakhet, part of the so-called East-West Corridor linking Burma-Thailand-Laos-Vietnam, will become a major transportation route in the Mekong region given that an increasing number of people are visiting the province from neighbouring countries. His comment followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the three countries in Savannakhet province.

The East-West Corridor stretches for nearly 1,500 kilometres across Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. It is the only land route that traverses mainland Southeast Asia on an east-west axis. Mr Sansern said motorists who travel on this land link would be issued a special driving licence from the three countries. Traffic flow would also improve as motorists at present need to produce special documents for cross-border travel at border checkpoints. The process inconveniences motorists and causes traffic congestion.

[Mod-GWR: Laos has plans for 4 new bridges over the Mekong (7th Jan. 2008):
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=19123&postcount=6 ]