Construction of third Lao-Thai bridge on track
Recent rainfalls have not disrupted construction of the third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge because the most important part of the structure has already been completed, said the project’s coordinator.
Mr Xaysana Fasavath said on Wednesday that the bridge links the central Lao
“We are working as normal and the project is now 50 complete, which is 13 percent ahead of schedule. An immigration building is now mostly complete, with just the roof remaining to be constructed,” he said.
“We are now also working on the superstructure of the bridge and welding, which we will suspend to work on paving if rain occurs.”
Workers are also preparing to lay concrete if the skies stay clear for a few days, he said.
Mr Xaysana said concrete has already been laid from the edge of the bridge to the immigration building and a further 500 metres of road will be paved to connect the bridge to Road No 13 South.
The Thai side is currently constructing its immigration facilities, he said.
The bridge is scheduled for completion in November 2011, after work began in May 2009.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place in March 2009 on both sides of the river. The ceremony was led by Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit and Her Royal Highness Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn of
In
The bridge will be built with pre-stressed concrete box girders 13m in width. There will be two lanes for traffic, each 3.5m wide, and two footpaths, each 1m wide. It will be built in the same style as the
The first
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