Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge set to open in May
The Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge linking northern Laos with Myanmar across the Mekong River is set to open officially in early May - ahead of the original plan slated for August, a senior government official has said.
Construction work on the US$26 million project, which began early in 2013, is set to complete by March, the Project Manager Xaysongkham Manotham told the Vientiane Times yesterday.
Progress on the project and preparation for the official opening of the bridge were discussed at a ministerial meeting held on Friday at the project's site.
Minister of Public Works and Transport Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong and his Myanmar counterpart U Kyaw Lwin led officials of both sides at the meeting held in Long district of the northern Lao province of Luang Namtha.
The meeting agreed on the revised opening date and pressed on the need to accelerate all necessary works to ensure that the works are done before the official opening, according to Mr Xaysongkham.
He added that the meeting touched upon the need for relevant sectors of both sides, including officials in charge of foreign affairs, immigration and customs, to work out all related procedures so that transport across the bridge between the two countries can begin once the bridge is opened to public services.
The ministers and concerned officials inspected the construction of border control facilities and roads approaching the bridge.
The bridge is built across the Mekong River, linking Thakhelek district in the Shan State of Myanmar and Luang Namtha province in Laos.
Built with a two-lane motorway, the bridge will be capable of accepting vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 75 tons and it can withstand earthquakes of up to 7.0 on the Richter scale.
Once opened for public service, the bridge is expected to significantly boost trade, investment and tourism between the two neighbours, whose current volume of trade is still low compared to other neighbouring countries.
Through the bridge, officials said the two countries will see smooth and speedy road transport contributing towards a swift flow of commodities, driving economic development.
The bridge is a joint investment by the Lao and Myanmar governments. The Laos-Myanmar bridge is 691.6 metres long and 10.9 metres wide.
So far, four friendship bridges have been built across the Mekong River linking Laos and neighbouring Thailand, with the bridges having reportedly caused a remarkable increase in two-way trade volume and tourism visits.
