An upgraded section of National Road 13 South.

Upgrade of National Road 13 South makes great leap forward 

A 78-km section of National Road 13 South from km190 to km168, passing through Borikhamxay and Khammuan provinces, is now 45 percent complete.
The arterial road links the southern provinces to the central region and then connects to National Road 13 North, which traverses the northern provinces.
In September last year, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport signed an agreement with the China International Water and Electric Corporation on the repair and maintenance of the road.
The contract covers the improvement and maintenance of the 78-km section of the road in central Laos, which is part of Laos’ most important transport network.
The work is being financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank at a cost of more than US$29 million.
The project is one of four contracts under the 275-km National Road 13 South improvement and maintenance project taking place in Borikhamxay and Khammuan provinces, funded by low-interest loans amounting to US$157.5 million from the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Laos’ Road Fund.
It includes widening of the road from 9 to 12 metres and improving low-lying sections that are prone to flooding.
The upgrade is taking place over three years while the maintenance component of the project will run for seven years.
The overall goal of the project is to improve the condition of the road, create safer driving conditions, and enhance climate resilience.
The project comprises the construction and upgrade of the 78-km section of the existing 2-lane NS13S highway from km190 to km268 and is implemented under a 10-year Output and Performance-Based Road Contract using the Design, Build, Maintain, Operate and Transfer method of operation.
The project is part of a larger government programme of rehabilitation and maintenance of the 275-km long National Road 13 South, comprising a two-lane section, from km71 in Vientiane to km346 in Khammuan province.
The road improvement programme involves four sections of National Road 13 South.
A separate World Bank-supported project will cover Section 1, and a European Investment Bank-supported project will cover Sections 2 and 4, including the construction supervision of all four sections.
The Lao government will finance the operation and maintenance of all sections.
Meanwhile, the fourth contract involved the section running from km26 to km346, is now 57 percent complete.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 3, 2023)