Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
| Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Mekong River, Thai-Lao Border |
| Locale |
Wiang Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai Province Ban Houayxay, Bokèo Province |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | box girder bridge |
| Total length | 480 metres (1,570 ft) |
| Width | 14.7 m |
| History | |
| Constructed by | CR5-KT Group of China and Krung Thon Engineering of Thailand |
| Opened | December 11, 2013 |
The Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai: สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 4, [sàpʰaːn míttràpʰâːp tʰaj laːw hɛ̀ŋ tʰîː sìː]; Lao: ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ, [kʰǔə mittapʰâːp láːw tʰaj]) is a highway bridge over the Mekong River that links the Chiang Khong District of Thailand and Ban Houayxay in Laos.[1] The bridge opened to the public on December 11, 2013.[2][3] The bridge was the last section of Asia Highway 3 to be built.
Size and location
The bridge is 630 meters long (with a main span of 480 meters) and is 14.7 meters wide.[2][4] It is located about 10 kilometers from Amphoe Chiang Khong (Chiang Khong District), in the northeastern part of Chiang Rai Province, in northern Thailand, and about 12 kilometers from Ban Houayxay, the capital of Bokeo Province, in northwestern Laos.
North of the bridge, a 6-km service road connects the bridge to Laotian highway R3A.[2] In the south, a 3-km service road connects the bridge to the Chiang Khong-Thoen Highway and Route 1129 in Thailand.[2]
History
The bridge was jointly financed by the governments of Thailand, Laos and China, along with the Asia Development Bank, to boost trade and development of the Greater Mekong Subregion.[2] About 1,900 million Baht was budgeted for the project.
On December 12, 2012, a ceremony marking the joining of the two sides of the bridge was held in Houayxay, Laos.[5] A year later, on December 12, 2013, the bridge was officially opened at a ceremony presided over by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.[2]
See also
- Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
- Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
- Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
References
- ↑ "Joint cabinet retreat scheduled for the weekend". The Nation. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit, "4th Friendship bridge opens" TTR Weekly 2013-12-12
- ↑ Des Ball and Jessada Burinsuchat, "New Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong" 2013-08-21
- ↑ "Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges no.3 and 4". bangkok post. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ↑ "The closure ceremony of Houayxay Bridge has been held Dec 12 2012". InKunming. 2012-12-12. Retrieved 12 December 2012.