Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
Laos plans first tunnel for Asian Highway connection
The government is planning to construct a 15 km. long tunnel to facilitate trade and transport service connections between Khammuan province of Laos and Quang Binh province of Vietnam. The project covers development of National Road No. 12, or Asian Highway (AH) 131, in Khammuan province to link with Vietnam. "Currently we are in cooperation with Japan on the project's study," Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport's Roads Department, Mr Ngampasong Muongmany said recently. "We have estimated that we will get the study result within this year and see if the project's construction can go ahead," Mr Ngampasong said.
AH 131 is 147km long, from Thakhaek district in Khammuan province to the Kiewmou-ya border crossing into Vietnam. "The project is necessary to develop because the last 15km of AH131 is steep," Mr Ngampasong said. "The steep road makes it difficult for trade services and transportation". "Once the project is done, it will improve the transport situation immensely."
The department is cooperating with Japan on the study because they have more modern technology. "We want to have use of their advanced technology for the construction," he said. However the study is a feasibility one, to see if the project is possible to develop. "We will have to use financial and technical support from international organisations for the development," he said. "The support will be both through a grant and a loan". The project study also includes where the financial support will come from and what difficulties there are. "Currently we are also working on how we will get assistance from these international organisations."
By Vientiane Times Reporters (Latest Update February 24, 2015)
Note LR: Not sure what is going on there bit it seems to be only a lofty plan by the Lao authorities at the moment without Vietnam being involved. The last 15 km. are indeed steep but the last time I was there (about 2 months ago) it looked like that they were building a new road more or less parallel with the last 15 km. from Ban Langkang to the border with Vietnam at the Mu Gia Pass which should alleviate some of the transport problems in case they would make the last 15 km. a one way system.
Rd. 12 with heavy freight traffic between Laos and Vietnam with a broken-down Lao truck blocking traffic in one of the curves
Presumably the new road which runs parallel with Rd 12 for the last 15 km.
The government is planning to construct a 15 km. long tunnel to facilitate trade and transport service connections between Khammuan province of Laos and Quang Binh province of Vietnam. The project covers development of National Road No. 12, or Asian Highway (AH) 131, in Khammuan province to link with Vietnam. "Currently we are in cooperation with Japan on the project's study," Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport's Roads Department, Mr Ngampasong Muongmany said recently. "We have estimated that we will get the study result within this year and see if the project's construction can go ahead," Mr Ngampasong said.
AH 131 is 147km long, from Thakhaek district in Khammuan province to the Kiewmou-ya border crossing into Vietnam. "The project is necessary to develop because the last 15km of AH131 is steep," Mr Ngampasong said. "The steep road makes it difficult for trade services and transportation". "Once the project is done, it will improve the transport situation immensely."
The department is cooperating with Japan on the study because they have more modern technology. "We want to have use of their advanced technology for the construction," he said. However the study is a feasibility one, to see if the project is possible to develop. "We will have to use financial and technical support from international organisations for the development," he said. "The support will be both through a grant and a loan". The project study also includes where the financial support will come from and what difficulties there are. "Currently we are also working on how we will get assistance from these international organisations."
By Vientiane Times Reporters (Latest Update February 24, 2015)
Note LR: Not sure what is going on there bit it seems to be only a lofty plan by the Lao authorities at the moment without Vietnam being involved. The last 15 km. are indeed steep but the last time I was there (about 2 months ago) it looked like that they were building a new road more or less parallel with the last 15 km. from Ban Langkang to the border with Vietnam at the Mu Gia Pass which should alleviate some of the transport problems in case they would make the last 15 km. a one way system.
Rd. 12 with heavy freight traffic between Laos and Vietnam with a broken-down Lao truck blocking traffic in one of the curves
Presumably the new road which runs parallel with Rd 12 for the last 15 km.
