Project Name: Detailed Engineering Design and Construction Supervision for Northern Economic Corridor (R-3 Thai Section) Project
Company Name: Southeast Asia Technology Co. Ltd.
Project Location: Houay Xay, Lao PDR
Project Owner: Ministry of Communication Transport Post and Construction, Lao PDR
Associates: Pacific Consultant International (Thailand) Co. Ltd.
Project Cost: 820,000,000 Baht
Project Description: This road project including bridges is from Chiang Rai to Kuming passing through Lao PDR linking Thailand and People Republic of China. The governments of Thailand and PRC had provided professional loan to finance this project. The improved road will follow a combination of class II and class III standards with a 7 m wide paved road and 1.5-2.5 m shoulders on each side. This project will help accelerate trade and transport in the Greater Mekong Sub region. It will also link the two remote provinces to fast growing economies.
Louang Namtha is the most transport deficient province and Vianphoukha District in Bokeo Province is one of the poorest in the country. The project will enhance access to these two areas that remained isolated for extended period of the year. ADB will finance the civil works to upgrade a 74 km middle section of the project road to a standard consistent with its potential as a major international link. The other two sections of the road will be built under separate bilateral financing arrangements with the governments of PRC and Thailand.
The three financiers will be responsible for one section each but the road will be designed and constructed by a single set of geometric design standards. The division of the road is based on three sections of equal cost. The northern section of about 69 km of the project road starting from the PRC border will be funded by the PRC Government. The southern section of the project road will be funded by the Government of Thailand and will cover approximately 85 km starting from Houay Xay heading north.
SEATEC was selected for the Detailed Design and Construction Supervision of the road and bridges along the southern most section of Chiang Rai – Kuming National Route 3 passing through Lao PDR starting from Houay Xay through Vieng Phoukha. Civil works consist of (I) reconstruction and upgrading of the entire length of the road to a sealed two-lane road; (II) construction of new bridges and widening of the existing bridges as required; (III) upgrading of ferry facilities at the Mekong River; and (IV) construction of new bypass around the town of Louang Namtha.
The project road will pass through two provinces, Bokeo and Louang Namtha, in the northwestern Lao PDR. Its southern terminus is in the town of Houay Xay, the capital of Bokeo Province located on Mekong River opposite to Thai river port of Chiang Kong. Its northern terminus is at the border between Lao PDR and PRC, at the village of Boten. The road passes through Vieng Phoukha and Louang Namtha, capital of Louang Namtha Province. The total distance of the existing road is about 250 km.
