Bangkok Post
Thursday 04 December 2003

ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Plans for new highways through Laos, Burma, Cambodia and China
Grants, soft loans to help neighbours
by Amornrat Mahitthirook

The Highways Department is pushing for the construction of roads into Laos,
Burma, Cambodia and China, with grants and soft loans worth over two
billion baht as an incentive for the countries to participate in the
projects.

Terdsak Sedthamanop, director-general, said yesterday a two-lane route was
planned from the Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai province through Luang
Namtha in Laos, and then continuing on to Jinghong in China.

Construction should begin next year and be completed in 2006.

The estimated cost was 2.5 billion baht, with each country paying about 800
million baht.

There would be a 50 km stretch from Nan province to Muang Ngeun and Pak
Beng in Laos. The route could eventually be extended to Hanoi. Calling of
tenders was planned for next year.

A second route to Laos would start from Tha Li district of Loei province,
cross the border at the Huang river and continue to Ken Thao township on
Laos. Work on the 20km project would begin on Dec 14.

The construction contract for the second Thai-Lao bridge across the Mekong
river was signed yesterday at the Transport Ministry in Bangkok.

Planned for completion in 2006, the 2km bridge will link Mukdahan with
Savannakhet in Laos. The work depends on a 2.5-billion baht loan from the
Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

From Thailand to Burma, a 38km route, including the second bridge across
the Mae Sai river, would be built to connect Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai
province with Kengtung in Burma.

From Kengtung, it could be extended to Mandalay and India as well as
Jinghong in China.

A 15km route is also planned from Mae Sot in Tak to Myawaddy in Burma.
Construction of the 150-million-baht road should start next year.

To Cambodia, a 20km road is planned from Si Sa Ket to Anlong Veng. Thai
government grant of 120 million baht is available for the extension of the
route to Siem Reap.

Also planned was a 150km road from Koh Kong to Srey Ambel, Mr Terdsak said.

Thailand would offer grants of 288 million baht and arrange for a
600-million baht loan for the work, which would make travel easier between
Trat province and Cambodia.[End]

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