Vietnam, Laos plan expressway linking two capital cities

A pre-feasibility study has been completed and the project will now proceed to the feasibility study stage with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho said.

He stated that the expressway must have the shortest length at the lowest cost possible, while it needs to traverse Laos's disadvantaged provinces in order to boost local economic development.

An estimate puts the cost at US$2.5 billion for a total of 725 kilometres, of which 335 kilometres would be located in Laos.

Construction will be divided into two phases, with US$1.5 billion being spent in the first stage up to 2020.

The expressway will begin in Vientiane, pass through Paksan and meet the Vietnam-Laos border at the Thanh Thuy checkpoint before connecting with Vietnam's north-south expressway in Nghe An province.

The expressway is planned to have between 4-6 lanes and allow maximum speeds of 100-120 kilometres per hour. The maximum speed will be reduced to 80 kilometres per hour in areas of difficult terrain.

(Source: NDO)