Public support for planned Vientiane expressway

Vientiane authorities say that almost everyone who will be affected by the Vientiane Expressway No. 1 project supports its construction, as they recognise the benefits it will bring.
The 15.3 km expressway will run from the Thatluang Marsh Specific Economic Zone to Dongmakkhai and will be constructed by the Vientiane Expressway Number 1 Sole Company Ltd.
Last Friday, authorities from the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department and Xaysettha and Xaythany districts talked to the media about the progress of the project and the compensation to be awarded to local residents for the loss of their property.
Deputy Director of the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, Mr Bounchanh Keosithamma, said Vientiane is undergoing rapid growth. The city has a population of almost 1 million people and about 800,000 vehicles. Traffic is becoming increasingly congested, especially on Kaysone Phomvihane Road.
The department was therefore assigned by the government to look into the possibility of building a road parallel to Kaysone Phomvihane Road, which has been named the Vientiane Expressway No. 1 project.
The authorities contracted Asia Investment, Development and Construction Sole Co., Ltd. (AIDC), a Lao company, and China’s Norinco Company, to carry out surveys and draw up plans for the expressway.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the authorities and the Vientiane Expressway Number 1 Sole Company Ltd. on July 12, 2016. The surveys were completed within two years.
The studies looked at the feasibility and impacts of the project, as well as gathering feedback from local people.
Mr Bounchanh said the results of the study were positive and almost everyone consulted voiced strong support for the project.
The government authorised Vientiane authorities to sign a build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession agreement with the Vientiane Expressway Number 1 Sole Company Ltd. in 2019.
The road will pass through Xaysettha and Xaythany districts.
The Vice Governor of Xaythany district, Mr Bounchanh Chaxuakao, said the road will run through Nakhear, Xay, Xaysavang, Dongsanghin, Dontew, Dongmakkhai and Khokyai villages. A total area of 53 hectares will be affected, including 183 plots of land and 31 houses.
District authorities met with local residents to get their feedback. About 80 percent were in support of the project because most of them suffered from difficult road conditions. 
“We are currently negotiating the amount of compensation that will be paid to those affected for the loss of their houses, land and crops,” Mr Bounchanh said.
District authorities will then put the proposed compensation to local residents to make sure that all parties are in agreement with the calculation.
Mr Bounchanh urged the residents of the seven villages to cooperate with the authorities, noting that only 10 percent of the owners of the 183 plots of land had not yet contacted the authorities.
Xaysettha district Vice Governor, Mr Bounping Panyachit, said the road was essential in order to resolve the problem of traffic congestion and was part of Vientiane’s socio-economic development plan.
In Xaysettha district, 12 villages will be affected, specifically 115 buildings and 584 plots of land. The total area affected is 20,230 hectares.
Mr Bounping said 90 percent of the people affected support the proposed road because they have to suffer from traffic congestion on a daily basis.   
He said compensation would be paid soon when they had more detailed information.
According to the project survey, the expressway will reduce traffic congestion on Kaysone Phomvihane and Kamphaengmeuang roads by 40 percent.
It is estimated that it will take only 10 minutes to drive from the start of the expressway at the Thatluang Specific Economic Zone to the Dongmakkhai area.
The expressway will pass through Huakhua market, Anji market, 450 Year Road and Road No. 13 South, ending up at Dongmakkhai.
The project cost is about US$200 million, with a concession period of 50 years. This period can be extended by the developer for 20 years if wished.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update July 8, 2019)