Laos-Thailand bridge connection

A new Laos-Thailand bridge connection is planned.

Road Structures / June 17, 2024 55 seconds Read

By MJ Woof

A sixth bridge spanning the Mekong River and linking Laos and Thailand is being planned – image courtesy of © Woravit Vijitpanya| Dreamstime.com

A sixth bridge spanning the Mekong River and linking Laos and Thailand is being planned – image courtesy of © Woravit Vijitpanya| Dreamstime.com

A new bridge linking Laos and Thailand is being planned and will cost around US$140 million. The bridge will be the sixth spanning the Mekong River to link the two nations and its completion is expected in 2025. Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is managing the project for the 6th Thai-Lao friendship bridge.

The 1.02km bridge links Thailand's Highway 2112 in Na Tan district of northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province with Lao PDR’s Highway 13 in La Khone Pheng town. According to Thailand's Ministry of Transport, this new bridge will further improve border trade and promote tourism between Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

Meanwhile, construction work on the fifth Mekong River bridge connecting Laos and Thailand is due for completion later in 2024. This fifth Friendship Bridge links Bolikhamxay Province in Laos with Bueng Kan Province in Thailand. When complete, the fifth Friendship Bridge will cut journey times for drivers, boosting trade and transport between the two nations.

The border between Thailand and Laos runs for 1,845km, more than half of which is formed by the Mekong River. The river also forms the border between Laos and Myanmar in the north, before meeting with the border with Thailand also.