First section of the Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway.

Ministry outline progress on five expressways

Laos has made progress in the construction of five expressways under the five-year plan of the government, the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Dr Viengsavath Siphandone, has said.
During an interview to the media on the occasion of the second Government Meeting held recently, he said that these five expressways are a priority in the development plan for the road sector for the period 2021-25.
He also provided details of the progress on the five projects. The first section between Vientiane and Vangvieng of expressway from the capital to Boten in Luang Namtha province has been opened. Authorities are in the process of selecting a company with various conditions and facilities to develop the second section between Vangvieng and Luang Prabang and the third section from Luang Prabang to Oudomxay. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is in the negotiation process for the fourth section from Oudomxay to Boten.
In the case of the expressway from Luang Namtha province to Houayxai in Bokeo province, the inspection and approval of the technical drawing have been completed and the Ministry of Planning and Investment is engaged in negotiations to sign a concession agreement.
The project for building the highway from Vientiane to Pakxe has been divided into five sections. The economic and technical certification for first section from Vientiane to Borikhamxay province has been completed.
The second section will run from Pakxan in Borikhamxay province to crossroad No. 12 at Thakhaek in Khammuan province, while the third section will run from junction No. 12 at Thakhaek to Khammuan province to Savannakhet province (junction No. 9B). The fourth
section will run from the junction of road number 9B in Savannakhet province to the junction of road number 15 in Saravan province, while a feasibility study is underway for the fifth section from Saravan province to crossroad No. 15 at Pakxe in Champassak province.
The fourth expressway project, a new corridor, will run parallel to road No. 12 from the third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Thakhaek District of Khammuan province to the Lao-Vietnam border. The economic and technical terms of this project have been approved.
The fifth expressway project, also a new corridor, will go from Thangon in Xaythany district of Vientiane to Naxanglek village in Thoulakhom district in Vientiane province. The economic and technical certification has been completed and the project is currently in the detailed design stage.
Dr Viengsavath highlighted the results arising from development of the highways, especially first section of the Vientiane to Boten expressway, which has been completed and is in use. The benefits are in proportion to the shareholding, with the Ministry of Planning and Investment responsible for monitoring and management on behalf of the contracting parties.
This section has reducing the distance and travel time for people, with a journey that originally took four hours now taking only one hour. It has also reduced the cost of transporting goods and the risk of accidents, and made it more convenience for people to travel between Vientiane and Vangvieng.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update January 25, 2023)