KPL
The construction of Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is considered to be 99.8% complete and is scheduled to open for use public on 9 May.
The remaining work consists only of some cleaning and decorating and it is expected that it will be finished on time on the opening day.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and his delegation were briefed about the progress by a foreman who is in charge of the bridge construction during a working visit to Luang Namtha Province on 1 May.
Newly built Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge will be opened on 9 May.
By Vinnaly
(KPL) The construction of Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is considered to be 99.8% complete and is scheduled to open for use public on 9 May.
The remaining work consists only of some cleaning and decorating and it is expected that it will be finished on time on the opening day.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and his delegation were briefed about the progress by a foreman who is in charge of the bridge construction during a working visit to Luang Namtha Province on 1 May.
“Once fully opened, the bridge will improve bilateral transport, communication, trade and tourism between Laos and Myanmar. Luang Namtha Province will directly benefit from increased economic activity and the creation of new jobs,” the foreman said.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat urged the committee responsible for the bridge to think carefully about a future management plan for the bridge that is in line with both countries’ national laws regarding bilateral cooperation in order to facilitate increased communication and trade.
The Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is located at Houa Koum village. It is about 15km north from Xiangkok village, and belongs to Long District, Luang Namtha Province of the Lao PDR. On the Myanmar side, it is located about 500 m to the south of Kenglap, Thachilek district, Lat San Province, Myanmar. The bridge is about 698 km north of Vientiane Capital in the Lao PDR, about 940 km from Nai Pi Taw Myanmar, and about 1020 km from Hanoi. It is also about 1,868 km from the Myanmar border with India and Bangladesh.
The Lao-Myanmar Friendship Bridge is 691.6 meters in length, 10.9 meters wide, and will have two lanes for vehicles in both directions that are 8.5 metres wide each. It will also have 1.2 meter wide sidewalks on each side.
The bridge is made of both steel and concrete beams and was designed to accommodate 10 wheeled trucks with maximum gross weight of 75 tonnes. It was also designed to allow ships of less than 500 tonnes to pass and to withstand earthquakes below 7 in intensity on the Richter scale.
A 30-month construction project cost about US$26 million and was a joint venture between the two countries.
The construction of the bridge began in February 2013 and is a significant symbol of cooperation and friendship between Lao and Myanmar.
The bridge links National Road No. 17 of Laos to National Road No. 4 of Myanmar, and was built to improve transit and facilitate trade between the two countries, thereby bringing benefits to both nations.
It will also link the countries within the sub-region especially Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and China.
It will also link to India and Bangladesh via National Road No.17, 13 and 2E of Laos, and National Road No. 4 of Myanmar.
KPL
