New Thai-Lao bridge to open Dec 20

[dirtydog]

KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE
Another bridge linking Thailand's Mukdahan Province and Savanakhet of Laos will open December 20.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside the opening. There will be three days of celebration from Dec 20-22 in Thailand to mark the event, while Laos will organise a border fair from Dec 17-24 featuring 200 booths selling local products .
The bridge spanning the Khong River is 12-metre wide and 1.6 kilometres long. It is the second bridge across the Khong, following the first one linking Nong Khai and Vientiane, the Laotian capital.
Mukdahan governor Boonsom Pirinyawong expects the new bridge to greatly increase trade and travel between Laos and Thailand and other Indochinese countries. The fee for crossing the bridge for a car or pick-up truck is 50 baht.
bangkok post

[dirtydog]

No agreement yet on new Thai-Lao bridge

Entry fees, traffic rules pose problems

By Amornrat Mahitthirook
The countdown for the opening of the new Thai-Lao bridge linking Mukdahan and Savannakhet has begun, but agencies have yet to reach a legal agreement to regulate transnational traffic. The 1.6km-long, two-lane bridge, which was completed on Dec 2, is part of the so-called East-West Corridor linking Burma-Thailand-Laos-Vietnam. While the bridge makes land transport between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam technically possible, some legal problems remain.
Songsak Phaecharoen, acting director-general of the Highways Department, said Thailand and Laos have yet to agree on bilateral entry fees and traffic rules for different types of vehicles to cross the bridge.
Laos has yet to agree with Vietnam on how to regulate traffic between the countries. However, negotiations between Thailand and Laos are making better progress than those between Laos and Vietnam.
Vehicles run on the left in Thailand and on the right in Laos and Vietnam.
Laos is not so concerned about the difference because its traffic is light. On the contrary, Vietnam, with heavy traffic, finds the issue more worrying.
At present, Vietnam won't let traffic from Thailand through Laos to enter its roads at random. For road safety, authorities still want traffic to enter in convoys escorted by road patrol cars.
Mr Songsak said Thai and Lao authorities were settling the regulatory details, which would hopefully be completed in time for the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the Thai and Lao prime ministers when Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh visits Thailand today, just before the bridge opening on Wednesday.
So far, informal agreement has been reached on some points. For example, Thailand and Laos possess their respective sides of the bridge. The part they own is on each side of the bridge's apex, where plaques are attached. Both sides will form a committee to take charge of protection and maintenance of the bridge. Vehicles will drive on the right while on the bridge and the traffic changeover will take place on the Thai side. Highways Department sources said Thailand proposes entry fees equal to those at the first Thai-Lao bridge that links Nong Khai province and Vientiane. There, entry fees range from 20 baht for cars up to 300 baht for anything over 10 wheels

bangkok post

[Spin]

How much for farangs?

[Anonymous Coward]

It will be interesting to see how Mukdahan profits from this new bridge. I was there last year and was amazed at all the facelifting being done. A beautiful promenade on the river front, old buildings cleaned up, utilities buried, etc. All this while Nakhon Phanom simply fades away.

Oh, and while you're crossing the bridge, remember that it looked like this at one time:



Note the collapsed middle span....

[dirtydog]

Mukdahan _ Villagers gathered on the banks of the Mekong river near the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge yesterday to worship the Naga, a mythical serpent believed to be the guardian of the river. They performed Buddhist and Brahman rituals to worship the Naga and ask the creature to bless the new bridge set to open today.
Local artists chanted a traditional Isan poem to please the gods which protect people living along the Mekong River.
These residents deeply respect the Naga. Therefore, before beginning any activity which affects the river, they pay their respects to, and seek permission from, the sacred creature, said Mukdahan Governor Boonsom Pirinyawong, who chaired the ceremony.
Thai and Lao people share the belief that the divine serpent inhabits the river. Many people also believe the Naga created the Mekong when the creature snaked southward from the north of Thailand and Laos several centuries ago.
The Naga worshipping ceremony was held on the eve of the opening ceremony of the bridge that links this northeastern province with Savannakhet province in Laos.
The bridge is part of efforts to open transport links in Southeast Asia under a scheme sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. The bridge connects with Road 9 in southern Laos to Vietnam. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony together with Lao Vice-President Boungnang Vorachit.

The first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong links Nong Khai and Vientiane, the Lao capital. Its construction was financed by Australia and the bridge was opened in 1994.
Spanning the Mekong, the new bridge, which received financing from Japan, is 12 metres wide and 1.6km long.
Attending the bridge opening ceremony today are 250 delegates from Thailand and 250 from Laos. Among the dignitaries will be Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh.
The princess and Mr Boungnang will push electronic buttons to lift a veil covering the bridge's nameplate at 10.30am after hearing reports from Gen Surayud and Mr Bouasone. After that the princess will spend a few hours in Savannakhet before returning to Thai soil at 1.30pm.
Both Mukdahan and Savannakhet provincial authorities also plan grand celebrations for the new friendship bridge.
Mukdahan has planned a celebration over three days and three nights, beginning today, the governor said.
Savannakhet has been holding an eight-day celebration. The celebration began on Sunday and will end next Sunday. Part of the celebration is a trade expo and market on a large area 4km from the foot of the bridge on the Lao side.
However, after today's official opening, the bridge will not open for transnational traffic until next month, according to the Highways Department's acting director-general Songsak Phaecharoen.
Thailand and Laos have to sign a bilateral agreement regarding regulations for bridge operations and traffic rules before it can be used for cross-border activities.
Mr Songsak said Thai and Lao authorities had settled some regulatory details, including the entry fees for different types of vehicles. However, the agreement must be approved by the government of each country before taking effect.

bangkok post

[dirtydog]

MUKDAHAN
Big crowds for opening of second bridge

But 1.6-km link won't be ready for vehicle crossings till next year



Crowds of people on the Thai and Lao banks of the Mekong River in Mukdahan and Savan-nakhet celebrated the opening yesterday of the second Friendship Bridge.

HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Lao Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith jointly presided over the opening ceremony, pushing electronic bottoms to mark the opening of the 1.6km bridge across Southeast Asia's longest river.

However, the bridge will not open for service until Thailand and Laos reach agreement on traffic flow and legal aspects of its operation. Traffic will cross the bridge next year.

Until then the bridge will serve as a tourist site, a Thai official said. Visitors will be allowed to walk on the bridge to enjoy the river view.

Laos is holding celebrations for a week, while there will be festivities for three days on the Thai side.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the bridge would serve transportation needs and boost economic development of the whole region.

The bridge links key routes from Burma via Thailand and Laos to Vietnam, and opens a passage to China, Japan and the Koreas, he said.

Lao Premier Bouasone Bouphavanh said the bridge would turn Laos from a landlocked country to one able to take up a significant role in regional development.

The bridge was a symbol of cooperation between Thailand, Laos and Japan, he said.

"We promise to maximise utility of the bridge for development as much as possible," he said.

Bouasone also expressed

regret at the loss of lives - of a Japanese engineer and local workers - while the bridge was being built last year.

The Japan Bank for Inter-national Cooperation provided an 8-billion-yen loan (Bt2.4 billion) for construction of the bridge.

It is a part of the Greater Mekong Sub-region's East-West Corridor project. Thailand and Laos share ownership of the bridge and equal portions of the Japanese loan.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Katsuhito Asano said during the opening Japan was committed to further cooperation with countries in the Mekong region, notably Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam.

The Mekong region was a priority and Japan would extend Official Development Assistance for countries in the region for the next three years.

"In addition, Japan will extend US$4 million (Bt143 million) for Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam," he said.

Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Tan Dung also attended the opening as a special guest, as Vietnam is considered a key element of the East-West Corridor project.
Strategic planners for the project hope Vietnam's port in central Danang province will play a significant role in transporting and shipping goods from Thailand and Laos to the Pacific.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation
Mukdahan

[kingwilly]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

MUKDAHAN

Until then the bridge will serve as a tourist site, a Thai official said. Visitors will be allowed to walk on the bridge to enjoy the river view.

woopifuckndoo!

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

"We promise to maximise utility of the bridge for development as much as possible," he said.

So now it is being used as a picnic spot for the locals

[dirtydog]

Lao girls place hopes on bridge

ANUCHA CHAROENPO
Savannakhet _ Female sex workers here are hoping business improves after the second Thai-Lao friendship bridge linking Thailand's Mukdahan and this southern Lao border province opens for actual use next month. They believe the bridge will attract people from all over the world to their town, including the 84 nightspots where they work.

Even though prostitution is considered illegal in the country, some illiterate and poor Lao women have taken up the job because they lack other means to make an income.

An unofficial survey of health workers in this province found that around 300-400 Lao women are working as sex workers. Most are natives while some are from other nearby Lao provinces such as Vientiane, Khammoune and Borikhamxai. Many Vietnamese women are also here.

Kaewmala Seehajit, a 30-year-old sex worker of Ban Phak Pathumporn Resort, has been in the trade for 10 years.

She is the breadwinner for her family that includes a seven-year-old daughter and aging parents.

''I have to work as a sex worker as I have no education and am poor,'' Mrs Kaewmala said.

She is among 25 sex workers at the resort, and earns about 1,500-2,000 baht a night.

Her income, she said, was not enough to cope with the rising cost of living.

''When the second Thai-Lao friendship bridge opens to the public next month I will have a chance to make money from more customers,'' she said.

Most customers were Thai and Lao truck drivers, businessmen and tourists. She occasionally went out with foreign tourists from western countries.

''Over the past few months the number of customers has dropped. Some nights I do not have even a single customer. I don't know what's happening to the province's tourism,'' she said.

Another sex worker at Dao Rung restaurant, Oui Chaiyawong, 28, said she was saving money to send to her parents in Vientiane.

''My parents are building a new house there,'' she said.

Oui has been working as a sex worker for three years. She makes 4,000-5,000 baht per night going out with at least two customers.

Suk Pangkaewmolee, 32, a madam at Rung Thip restaurant, said all sex workers under her care dreamed of making more money after the bridge opened.

She said many restaurants and resorts had been done up to welcome tourists who may visit or stop over en route to Vietnam via Highway No. 9, which cuts through the province.
However, the sex workers were concerned over the possible outbreak of sexual diseases, especially HIV/Aids. Many attended a workshop organised by Thai and Lao health officials and the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand this week to learn how to protect themselves. Panom Phongmany, deputy director of Savannakhet Provincial Health Department, said sex workers must demand their customers use a condom.
bangkok post

[ChiangMai noon]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

She makes 4,000-5,000 baht per night going out with at least two customers.

bloody hell.

[Udonite]

Open for Sex Traffic first, cars trucks and lorries next year

You could not make it up.

[Wallace]

Must be from ex-pat workers - Chinese, Japanese or farang. Certainly no locals have dosh like that.

I wonder what's going to happen to Savannakhet. The bridge is about 1 or 2km north of the town and actually bypasses the place to hit the main road to Vietnam. I was there earlier this year and there's certainly a lot of activity where the roads meet up. In the town, however, it's just as sleep as ever. They've paved over the old square, which is a shame as now it's just ugly. Otherwise, nothing seems to be happening at all.

[Spin]

Originally Posted by dirtydog

She is among 25 sex workers at the resort, and earns about 1,500-2,000 baht a night.
Her income, she said, was not enough to cope with the rising cost of living.

Total and utter bollocks.

[Thetyim]

Originally Posted by Helicopter

Total and utter bollocks.

Agreed
Also neither the resort nor the restaurant show up on a google.

[Whiteshiva]

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Agreed
Also neither the resort nor the restaurant show up on a google.

I guess you will have to ask around when you get there, then.....