Council gives green light to proposed Vientiane highway
The Vientiane People’s Council has approved a proposal for the construction of a 14-km highway submitted by city authorities in a bid to ease traffic congestion. The six-lane highway will be built parallel to Kaysone Phomvihane Road. The planned road will be 70 metres wide and run from the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Xaysettha district to Dongmakkhai village in Xaythany district. An official in charge of the project, Dr Bouavone Souklasaeng, told Vientiane Times on January 12 that following approval by the Vientiane People’s Council, the project would be submitted to the government for final approval before any construction could begin. Construction is expected to start this year following government approval with completion slated for 2019. Project officials will seek funding from several sources in the form of low-interest loans. Dr Bouavone said the cost of the project was estimated at between US$150 million to US$200 million.
