Laos highway construction proposal

Plans are being put forward for a 14km highway project in Laos capital Vientiane. The aim of the project would be to help ease the city’s chronic congestion problems. The proposals call for the construction of a six lane highway, carrying three lanes of traffic in either direction. The proposed route runs from Xaysettha district’s Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (Lao-ITECC) to Xaythany district’s Dongmakkhai village, alongside the existing Kaysone Phomvihane Road.

The project has still to be given final approval by the Laos Government but construction is expected to commence during 2017, with the work then being due for completion in 2019, should all go to plan. Financing has yet to be secured but a series of loans look likely to pay for the majority of the project, which has expected costs ranging from US$150-$200 million.