Authority confirms Tanmixay-Sikeuth road completion by year’s end

Vientiane Authority has confirmed the upgrade of the 9.4-km road running from Tanmixay crossroads in Xaythany district to Sikeuth junction in Naxaithong district of Vientiane will be completed by the end of this year.
Consulting Project Director, Mr Sompasong Chanthavong, told Vientiane Times  yesterday that the project is currently 72.62 percent complete with workers speeding up the construction so that the road upgrade will be finished by the end of 2019 .

“The road surface is presently being prepared with workers continuing to lay concrete, which will make life much easier for motorists when done,” he said.
The project to improve and widen the road began in October 2016 and was initially scheduled to conclude in October last year. The work was partly delayed due to financial difficulties. 
At the beginning of this year, the project agreement was extended by nine months since it was running behind schedule.
The removal of all obstacles impeding construction, rerouting electricity cables and negotiating with landholders living along the road took longer than expected, according to an official in charge of the work. 
The upgrade will cost US$45.1 million (about 367 billion kip, including interest). 
Tangchaleun Group Co Ltd is paying the total construction cost upfront, and the government will repay the firm over seven years, with an annual interest rate of 3.5 percent.
The completed road will be 28 metres wide and have six lanes, a median strip, pavements and drainage. Traffic lights will also be installed.
When finished, the road will improve conditions for local vendors and residents who have complained about the constant dust during construction. It connects Road No. 13 North to 450 Road and Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue via the National University of Laos in Dongdok. 

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update September 19, 2019)