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Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

Coordinates: 16°36′04″N 104°44′09″E / 16.60111°N 104.73583°E / 16.60111; 104.73583
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Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

  • สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 2 (Thai)
  • ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທີສອງ (Lao)
Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, seen from Mukdahan
Coordinates16°36′04″N 104°44′09″E / 16.6011°N 104.7358°E / 16.6011; 104.7358
CarriesAH16
( Route 239)
CrossesMekong
LocaleMukdahan, Thailand - Savannakhet, Laos
Characteristics
DesignTwo-span extradosed bridge (Concrete box girder deck, concrete pylons)
MaterialPrestressed concrete
Total length2,702 m (1.7 mi)
Traversable?yes
No. of lanes2
History
Construction start2004
Construction end2006
Construction cost2.5 billion THB
Opened2007
Inaugurated19 December 2006
Location
Map
Change from left to right hand drive
Checkpoint near the bridge (Thai side)

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

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Box girder sections being constructed

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.

Pylons being constructed
Project sign

See also

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References

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16°36′04″N 104°44′09″E / 16.60111°N 104.73583°E / 16.60111; 104.73583