The fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, linking Thailand’s Bueng Kan province with Laos’ Pakxan town, is nearing completion and is set to open its doors to traffic in November. This ambitious project, spearheaded by Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, aims to strengthen transportation links between the two countries, facilitating smoother trade and tourism activities.

Scheduled to span over the Mekong River, the bridge features a 1.35-kilometre dual-lane road and a four-lane bypass on the Thailand side, connecting Highway No.222 with key destinations like Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom. Additionally, a 2.86-kilometre bypass in Pakxan will further ease congestion and streamline traffic flow.

With an estimated cost of 3.9 billion baht, the project is poised to significantly reduce transportation costs and time for cargo moving between Thailand and Laos, bolstering logistics and tourism sectors. Moreover, it is expected to stimulate investment and employment opportunities, fostering economic growth and urban development in Bueng Kan.

In line with this initiative, plans for further infrastructure development in bordering provinces have been unveiled, signaling a promising future for cross-border connectivity and economic cooperation between Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and China.