Concrete is laid on a section of the Sikhai-Sikeuth road. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: Improvements and repairs being carried out on a section of Road 13 North in central Vientiane over a distance of 6 kilometres are expected to be complete in March next year.
The works are taking place on the main road between Sikhai village in Sikhottabong district and Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district.
An official in charge of the project said 35 percent of the road has now been resurfaced with concrete and 92 percent of drainage ditch work is complete.
The upgrade of Road 13 North at this location involves four traffic lanes, a median strip, street lights, and closed drainage ditches, with a contract value of US$10.29 million.
The project contractor is the Tangchaleun Group Co., Ltd. in collaboration with the Dongsung and Dasan Consulting Company of the Republic of Korea together with the Lao Consulting Group.
The scheduled construction period is 1.5 years and the maintenance period is three years. The project is owned by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
The upgrade is financed by the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), and the Lao government.
This section of road is located in a busy area and has a high traffic volume, as there are three markets in the vicinity. Heavy trucks and speeding vehicles frequently pass by, creating dust and making conditions difficult for road workers.
There are still a number of obstructions to be moved and there is an ongoing problem of standing water at the side of the road because the new drainage ditch has not yet been installed.
The upgrade is part of improvements being made to large sections of National Highway No. 13, which has deteriorated significantly in recent years.
Road crews are widening and resurfacing many sections of the road, which will be paved with concrete.
One of these is the road between Sikeuth and Phonhong, which will improve the connection to Road No. 13 North.
This road will be widened from two to four lanes and will have a 2-metre-wide median strip and motorbike lanes on each side. Sidewalks 1.5 metres in width will also be built on each side, bringing the total width of the road to 23 metres.
The road will connect to the 58-km section of Road No. 13 North between Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district and Phonhong district in Vientiane province, which is also being upgraded.
National Road 13 is the country’s main arterial link to neighbouring countries and is the most important highway in Laos, connecting to China in the north and Cambodia in the south over a total length of 1,500km.
It also serves as a vital goods transport route between Vietnam and Thailand. - Vientiane Times/ANN
