New Savannakhet-Saravan road set to open this month

An 88.2km road that has been built between Thapangthong district in Savannakhet province and Toumlan district in Saravan province will soon open to traffic.
Director of the Public Works and Transport Department in Savannakhet province, Mr Xayasen Keovilaisack, told Vientiane Times authorities plan to open the road on December 24.
The road is now 99 percent complete, he said.
Road No. 2.6313 links Road No. 13 South in Xebangnuan village, Thapangthong district, to Toumlan district, and provides a short route for travel in the area.
Construction began in October 2017 and was initially scheduled to finish on October 1 but the completion date was extended when work was suspended from April 1-May 3 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, a project official said.
The road has 19 bridges, as well as causeways across watercourses. Traffic lights and road signs have also been installed.
The road is surfaced with asphalt over a width of 7 metres, increasing to 9 metres over a 3km section in central Thapangthong district.
The project also includes construction of the Sesalalong Agriculture Technical Training Centre in Thapangthong district.
The project is expected to cost almost US$60 million and is being funded by a loan from the China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO).
In the past, motorists used Road No. 13 South to travel between Savannakhet and Saravan, joining up with Road No. 20 in Pakxong district, Champassak province, over distances of about 250km and 150km from Napong in Saravan Province.
The road is expected to improve conditions for people living in rural communities in Thapangthong and Toumlan districts.
It will accelerate development in the region by improving the flow of goods between communities and easing transport to neighbouring provinces.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update December 9, 2020)