Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

Bridge on the Mekong River, Laos-Thailand

16°36′04″N 104°44′09″E / 16.6011°N 104.7358°E / 16.6011; 104.7358CarriesAH16
(

Route 239)CrossesMekongLocaleMukdahan, Thailand - Savannakhet, LaosCharacteristicsDesignTwo-span extradosed bridge (Concrete box girder deck, concrete pylons)MaterialPrestressed concreteTotal length2,702 m (1.7 mi)Traversable?yesNo. of lanes2HistoryConstruction start2004Construction end2006Construction cost2.5 billion THBOpened2007Inaugurated19 December 2006Location Map

The Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai: สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 2, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn mít.trā.pʰâːp tʰāj lāːw hɛ̀ŋ tʰîː sɔ̌ːŋ]; Lao: ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທີສອງ, pronounced [kʰǔa̯ mīt.tā.pʰâːp láːw tʰáj hɛ̄ŋ tʰīː sɔ̌ːŋ]) over the Mekong connects Mukdahan Province in Thailand with Savannakhet in Laos. The bridge is 1600 meters (1.0 mi) long and 12 meters (39 ft) wide, with two traffic lanes.^[1]

Traffic on the bridge drives on the right, as in Laos, while traffic in Thailand drives on the left; the lane-change is on the Thai side.

History

Bridge construction began on 21 March 2004. Supports and spans were constructed on shore, then moved out onto pylons in the river by crane.^{[citation needed]}

The total cost was about 2.5 billion baht (US$70 million), funded largely by a Japanese loan. An opening ceremony was held on 19 December 2006, and the bridge opened to the general public on 9 January 2007.