Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge - Definition and Overview

The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai Saphan Mittaphap Thai-Lao) is a bridge over the river Mekong, connecting the provinces of Nong Khai in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos. Opened on April 8 1994 it was the first ever bridge crossing the lower Mekong, and the second ever on the full course of the Mekong.

The bridge spans a total length of 1170 m. The total cost of the bridge was about thirty million US dollar, funded by the Australian government as development aid for Laos. The bridge was built by Australian companies, as a demonstration of the capabilities of Australian companies being able to complete major infrastructural projects in south-east Asia. This mixing of development aid with commercial interests was criticized by some NGOs.

The bridge has two 3.5 m wide lanes for car traffic, two 1.5 m wide footpaths, and was also built to house a railway track in the middle. In 1994 tracks were laid from Nong Khai station to the bridge, but no further. On March 20 2004 an agreement between the Thai and Lao governments was signed to extend the railway to Tha Nalaeng, about 3.5 km from the bridge in Laos. This will be the only operating railway in Laos.

See Also

• Friendship Bridge between Brazil and Paraguay