ROAD DEVELOPMENT AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN LAOS

[Lone Rider]

A few more updates on road construction activities in Laos

Rd 4501 from Hinheup to Mueang Feuang and south to Ban Vang on the Mekong (opposite Ban Khok Pai in Thailand).

Hinheup-Xanakham road works on track
A 132-km road being built to link Hinheup district with Feuang and Xanakham districts in Vientiane province will be surfaced with asphalt after the rainy season.
Source: Vientiane Times 25 June 2015

See also: Rd. 4501

Rd 4502 from Kasy (Phonbaeng/Xang on Rd 13N) to Xanakham

Kasy-Maed (Met/Mad) road link construction on track
The company rebuilding the road linking Kasy and Maed districts in Vientiane province has reported that the project is progressing well and work is now about 25 percent complete.

Source: Vientiane Times 30 June 2015

Things move slow in Laos and Rd. 4501 - Hinheup/Feuang to Ban Vang on the Mekong (opposite Ban Khok Pai in Thailand) has now been widened and upgraded/re-aligned all the way but there is still no pavement.


Rd 4502 from Kasy (Phonbaeng/Xang on Rd 13N) to Xanakham - The road has been upgraded/widened from Rd. 13 South to Mueang Maed with the exception of a new bridge over the Nam Lik river at Ban Phonthiang. However, no new pavement yet although the roads in Ban Maed have been paved.

Work has also started on upgrading the same road 4502 further south from Mueang Maed all the way to Ban Ponsavan where Rd. 4502 links with Rd. 11.

 

[mactbkk]

Northern road cut by landslides
Vientiane Times, July 20, 2017
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Northern.htm

The road from Kasy district in Vientiane province to Nan district in Luang Prabang province is currently cut by numerous landslides following recent heavy rainfall, authorities have reported.

Authorities said the road was cut on Tuesday night at about 7:45pm after heavy rain lashed the province since Friday last week.

Many motorists and tourists on the route needed a ride back to find somewhere to stay in Kasy district town guesthouses.

Officials urged the public to use caution when travelling in the area as poor road conditions may contribute to accidents.

Vientiane provincial authorities assigned officials to survey the collapsed road before preparing to repair the section.

Workers were scheduled to start their repairs this week but have found it difficult because of the weather, authorities reported.

At the moment, it is not easy for workers on the road because it is still raining. If there is no more rain the road may be reopened in the near future.

Road users and tourists can use an alternative route, Road No. 13 North via Phoukhoun to the northern provinces, authorities advised.

As of yesterday, the road from Kham to Phonsavanh district in Xieng Khuang province was also cut by flooding after heavy downpours, provincial authorities reported.

In Xieng Khuang the flash flooding inundated Road No. 7 in Paek district. Residents have been resorting to heavy vehicles to cross the flooded route.

Most of the swamped farmlands and households are in Yuanthong village of Paek district.

Heavy rainfall over several hours yesterday caused flood waters to inundate private and state property and cut off key roads in the province.

Some roads linking the northern districts are now difficult to travel on but passable while other routes have been completely cut off by landslides, authorities reported.

Motorists travelling to the northern provinces have been advised not to use the Kasy to Nan road and go via other routes, officials warned.
..



[h=3]Road No 7 Linking Kham to Paek district Cut by Floodwater[/h]
see pictures and VDO click here

 

[Lone Rider]

Northern road cut by landslides
Vientiane Times, July 20, 2017
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Northern.htm

The road from Kasy district in Vientiane province to Nan district in Luang Prabang province is currently cut by numerous landslides following recent heavy rainfall, authorities have reported.

Authorities said the road was cut on Tuesday night at about 7:45pm after heavy rain lashed the province since Friday last week.

Many motorists and tourists on the route needed a ride back to find somewhere to stay in Kasy district town guesthouses.

Officials urged the public to use caution when travelling in the area as poor road conditions may contribute to accidents.

Vientiane provincial authorities assigned officials to survey the collapsed road before preparing to repair the section.

Workers were scheduled to start their repairs this week but have found it difficult because of the weather, authorities reported.

At the moment, it is not easy for workers on the road because it is still raining. If there is no more rain the road may be reopened in the near future.

Road users and tourists can use an alternative route, Road No. 13 North via Phoukhoun to the northern provinces, authorities advised.

As of yesterday, the road from Kham to Phonsavanh district in Xieng Khuang province was also cut by flooding after heavy downpours, provincial authorities reported.

In Xieng Khuang the flash flooding inundated Road No. 7 in Paek district. Residents have been resorting to heavy vehicles to cross the flooded route.

Most of the swamped farmlands and households are in Yuanthong village of Paek district.

Heavy rainfall over several hours yesterday caused flood waters to inundate private and state property and cut off key roads in the province.

Some roads linking the northern districts are now difficult to travel on but passable while other routes have been completely cut off by landslides, authorities reported.

Motorists travelling to the northern provinces have been advised not to use the Kasy to Nan road and go via other routes, officials warned.
..



[h=3]Road No 7 Linking Kham to Paek district Cut by Floodwater[/h]
see pictures and VDO click here

Yes, the road was cut but it is still or rather again usable as they have carved out a temporary road - they recommend 4WD as there are a few slippery sections - this 4WD requirement is valid for the Kasy to Nan section as the road goes steep up. Coming from the other side - Nan to Kasy - all vehicles can do it.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/pakaad/videos/1938732856371411/[/video]
The road going from Nan to Kasy

[video]https://www.facebook.com/pakaad/videos/1938733293038034/[/video]
Video showing the road going from Kasy to Nan with trucks not moving as the road is to slippery

 

[Lone Rider]

A bit more on this road - Road 4C from Mueang Nan on Road 4 to Kasy at Road 13 North. This road is considered a shortcut between Vientiane and Luang Prabang as the alternative (Road 13C via Phoukhoun) is about 45 km. longer when compared with the shortcut via Rd. 4C. However, although considerable shorter and being more straight and faster, the road is very steep in particular on the Kasy side. Rd. 4C starts at an altitude of about 550 meter at the junction of Rd. 4 with Rd. 4C near Mueang Nan going up to over 1800 meter at the highest point and from there going down to an altitude of about 500 meter at the junction of Rd. 4C with Rd. 13N at Kasy.


The Vertical profile of Rd 4c from Rd. 4 to Rd. 13 North

The problems areas are near the viewpoint at about 1820 meter as this is the area where 2 rivers start flowing down to the Kasy Area


The problem areas just south of the Viewpoint

 

[Lone Rider]

Shortcut in Rd 11 from Vientiane to Paklay

Last week while on my way from Vientiane to Paklay we found that a shortcut north of Xanakham connecting Rd 11 at Ban Pakxao to Rd 11 at Ban Naphiang has been upgraded by widening and paving it. This makes the road from Vientiane to Paklay some 13 kilometers shorter with only 16 km. being left unpaved from Ban Vang (junction of Rd. 11 with Rd. 4501 (north to Mueang Meun, Mueang Fueang and Vang Vieng) to Ban Pakxao at the bridge over the Houay Sao.

 

[Cycle Wallah]

A bit more on this road - Road 4C from Mueang Nan on Road 4 to Kasy at Road 13 North. This road is considered a shortcut between Vientiane and Luang Prabang as the alternative (Road 13C via Phoukhoun) is about 45 km. longer when compared with the shortcut via Rd. 4C. However, although considerable shorter and being more straight and faster, the road is very steep in particular on the Kasy side. Rd. 4C starts at an altitude of about 550 meter at the junction of Rd. 4 with Rd. 4C near Mueang Nan going up to over 1800 meter at the highest point and from there going down to an altitude of about 500 meter at the junction of Rd. 4C with Rd. 13N at Kasy.

View attachment 54228
The Vertical profile of Rd 4c from Rd. 4 to Rd. 13 North

The problems areas are near the viewpoint at about 1820 meter as this is the area where 2 rivers start flowing down to the Kasy Area

View attachment 54226
The problem areas just south of the Viewpoint

It's a horrible climb on a push bike!😜😜😜 Never again.

 

[Lone Rider]

Road 2504 and Road 2505

North of Luang Prabang - Road 2504 from Rd. 13N just south of the bridge over the Nam Xuang river east to Phonxai is now paved. From this road you can continue to Phonsavan (all unpaved roads) and also to Rd. 1C (No cars as most is single trail - not passable during the rainy season)

North of Luang prabang - Road 2505 from Rd. 13N just north of the bridge over the Nam Xuang river east to Pakxeng is now paved. From this road you can continue to Rd. 1C (all unpaved roads)

 

[mactbkk]

And, here's another connection in the north, Ban Huak, Phayao to Khob on the Lao side. This should help travel on to Luang Prabang.

Mac

27 Jul 2017Bangkok PostSAIARUN PINADUANG
NSC nod eyed for checkpoint upgrade


PHAYAO: Provincial authorities are expected to ask the National Security Council (NSC) to approve a proposed upgrade of the Ban Huak border crossing in Phu Sang district into an international border checkpoint.


Wiroon Sitthiwong, chief of Phu Sang district, said local officials have been making the necessary preparations for boosting the status of Ban Huak in a bid to increase local trade and investment. Officials will seek approval from the NSC in September.


The move is part of a border development plan to facilitate trade and investment between the districts of Phu Sang and Chiang Kham and four border towns in Sayaboury province in Laos.


According to the district chief, both Thai and Lao officials, along with members of the local business community who attended the July 25 meeting on border trade and investment, have thrown their support behind the status upgrade.


Mr Wiroon said the Thai side is building a temporary office in preparation for the plan.


Kowit Chaimuang, the chairman of traders in Chiang Kham district of Phayao said local investors are eager to see the opening of Ban Huak as an international checkpoint.


He said the checkpoint will facilitate the transport of goods, reduce costs and boost cross-border trade value.


Toey Somsak, president of TT-Power Co in Laos, said the opening of the Ban Huak crossing as a permanent checkpoint will benefit all sectors including energy, agriculture and construction.


He said the local tourism industry in Phayao is also likely to grow as it can provide an alternative route to Luang Prabang — a world cultural heritage site in Laos.


According to Lao officials, authorities have been making preparations for the border development plan and the Pang Mon border checkpoint in the town of Khop is well-equipped to handle the expected increase in business activity.

 

[Lone Rider]

And, here's another connection in the north, Ban Huak, Phayao to Khob on the Lao side. This should help travel on to Luang Prabang.

Mac

27 Jul 2017Bangkok PostSAIARUN PINADUANG
NSC nod eyed for checkpoint upgrade


PHAYAO: Provincial authorities are expected to ask the National Security Council (NSC) to approve a proposed upgrade of the Ban Huak border crossing in Phu Sang district into an international border checkpoint.


Wiroon Sitthiwong, chief of Phu Sang district, said local officials have been making the necessary preparations for boosting the status of Ban Huak in a bid to increase local trade and investment. Officials will seek approval from the NSC in September.


The move is part of a border development plan to facilitate trade and investment between the districts of Phu Sang and Chiang Kham and four border towns in Sayaboury province in Laos.


According to the district chief, both Thai and Lao officials, along with members of the local business community who attended the July 25 meeting on border trade and investment, have thrown their support behind the status upgrade.


Mr Wiroon said the Thai side is building a temporary office in preparation for the plan.


Kowit Chaimuang, the chairman of traders in Chiang Kham district of Phayao said local investors are eager to see the opening of Ban Huak as an international checkpoint.


He said the checkpoint will facilitate the transport of goods, reduce costs and boost cross-border trade value.


Toey Somsak, president of TT-Power Co in Laos, said the opening of the Ban Huak crossing as a permanent checkpoint will benefit all sectors including energy, agriculture and construction.


He said the local tourism industry in Phayao is also likely to grow as it can provide an alternative route to Luang Prabang — a world cultural heritage site in Laos.


According to Lao officials, authorities have been making preparations for the border development plan and the Pang Mon border checkpoint in the town of Khop is well-equipped to handle the expected increase in business activity.

Hope that this crossing will become International soon. The roads are now paved (see http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...TRUCTION-IN-LAOS?p=63222&viewfull=1#post63222) and hopefully road 4B will be ready soon so we will have a quicker way to get to Luang Prabang

 

[Lone Rider]

Road 1801 - Rd. 2w from Mueang Nga and onwards to Ban Lathan on the Mekong

GREAT CHANGES

Within the first six months of construction of the Laos-China Railway, Chinese companies have built roads running through forests and drill tunnels halfway up the mountains.

The construction section of China Railway No.8 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CREC8) is located on Laos' northern Luang Prabang area along the Mekong river, some 220 km north of capital Vientiane. The most obvious change brought about by the construction of the China-Laos railway is the new roads running through wild forests in northern Laos.



In Muangxay-Luang Prabang area in northern Laos, the 1801 provincial road used to be a narrow, steep and bumpy dirt road curving around slopes. After being included in the construction of China-Laos railway, the China Railway International Group set up a special maintenance team to widen the road and decrease slopes. Now the road is either covered with sand stone, or blacktopped.

Source: Feature: Laos-China railway brings changes to Laos

Note LR: Ban Lathan is the location where another bridge will cross the Mekong carrying the Laos China Railway to Luang prabang

 

[Lone Rider]

Upgrading of Road 0119 along the Mekong from the Friendship Bridge to Road 13 South

A 26.2-km road under construction (Rd. 0119) is also designed to serve as an embankment to prevent flooding in Vientiane and also handle rising numbers of vehicles from other parts of the capital. Built under the US$36.5-million Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project (FDM), the road will connect the Friendship Bridge near Thanalaeng village in Hadxaifong district to the Huaymark Hiew (Huai Mak-Niao) water gate near Ban Makhiao in Pak Ngum District. The road in question will connect with a 10-km plus concrete road in Phao / Ban Naxone village which is under construction and National Road No. 13 South.



Once completed, motorists in southern Vientiane can save time and money using this route in travelling to central and southern provinces. The move will also contribute to minimising traffic congestion on other roads in the capital. FDM project coordinator Mr Khamphachanh Vongsana told Vientiane Times yesterday that the 26.2-km road is about 46 percent completed and will finish next year. The road has a total cost of US$10.2 million and began construction last year.

Source: Based on Vientiane Times - (Latest Update August 11, 2017)

 

[Lone Rider]

Sekong bridge completion delayed to 2018

Construction of the Sekong Bridge on National Road No.16B in Sekong province has experienced delays and completion is now slated for 2018 instead of next year as previously projected. The construction of the bride began in 2014 at a projected cost of US$15 million and was originally expected to finish in March this year but they experienced some delays causing extensions beyond the project plan. According to the construction project deputy head, Mr Khamkeng Keosouvanh, at present work on the project is about 70 percent complete. The bridge will be 300 metres in length and 11 metres in width.

Therefore, the project developer proposed to extend the construction period for another ten months in order to improve some aspects of the work in accordance with accepted international techniques, he added. So far, we have completed works under and above the bridge and the remaining works are bridge surface pavement and the bridge entrance approaches on each side, in order to ensure a quality finished product, Mr Khamkeng said.

By Times Reporters (Latest Update December 7, 2016)

Slow but sure and slowly getting ready for a 2018 date for opening the bridge

 

[Lone Rider]

View attachment 46730
The Nam In crossing and the new bridge February 2016

Picture: Copyright Ian B. Gatenby

The Nam In crossing - September 2017 very close to Ban Phanop south of Rd. 12

Due to the heavy rains in that area, the Nam In crossing was no longer feasible so they made temporary ramps for the new bridge which has been ready for some time. However, no sign yet of any work on improving road 5528.

 

[Lone Rider]

Rd 2571 from Luang Prabang Airport to Ban Kokvan to be upgraded

The Department of Public Works and Transport of Luang Prabang announces that they will begin repairs of Rd. 2571 starting on 25 September 2017 and this may result in delays in case you travel along this road. They advice to take Rd 13N to Ban Pakxung and from there head east along Rd. 2504 in the direction of Phonxai District

 

[Lone Rider]

A bit more on this road - Road 4C from Mueang Nan on Road 4 to Kasy at Road 13 North. This road is considered a shortcut between Vientiane and Luang Prabang as the alternative (Road 13C via Phoukhoun) is about 45 km. longer when compared with the shortcut via Rd. 4C. However, although considerable shorter and being more straight and faster, the road is very steep in particular on the Kasy side. Rd. 4C starts at an altitude of about 550 meter at the junction of Rd. 4 with Rd. 4C near Mueang Nan going up to over 1800 meter at the highest point and from there going down to an altitude of about 500 meter at the junction of Rd. 4C with Rd. 13N at Kasy.

View attachment 54228
The Vertical profile of Rd 4c from Rd. 4 to Rd. 13 North

The problems areas are near the viewpoint at about 1820 meter as this is the area where 2 rivers start flowing down to the Kasy Area

View attachment 54226
The problem areas just south of the Viewpoint

No plans yet for repair of Kasy-Nan road after landslides

The road between Kasy district in Vientiane province and Nan district in Luang Prabang province is likely to remain in poor condition in the wake of several landslides, as local authorities still haven’t made plans for repairs. Director of the Public Works and Transport Department in Vientiane province, Mr Soumontha Somchanmavong, told Vientiane Times last week there are no plans to repair the road because it’s a difficult area to work on. “This section of road, which runs for 68km between the two districts, is mountainous and frequently affected by landslides in the rainy season. But we have arranged for excavators to be on standby in case the road becomes impassable,” he said.

​

“We have to discuss ways to repair the road with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport,” Mr Soumontha said. In the meantime, the department is warning heavy trucks and vehicles with two-wheel drive transmission not to use this road. People travelling from Vientiane to Luang Prabang are advised not to use the road unless they have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. However, in the reverse direction from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, motorists in two-wheel-drive vehicles should be able to get through. This section of Road No. 4C is not only mountainous but also has many bends, so motorists should take great care, especially in wet conditions. Officials urge the public to use caution when travelling in the area as poor road conditions can lead to accidents. A safer route to the northern provinces is Road No. 13 North via Phoukhoun, authorities advised.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update October 9, 2017)

 

[Lone Rider]

Road No. 9 upgraded to Asean standards

Sections of National Road No. 9 linking Thailand and Vietnam through Savannakhet province of Laos are being upgraded to Asean standards so they can bear loads of 11 tonnes per axle. The Asean Economic Community comes into effect at the end of this year, and roads in Laos will need to be improved so they fall in line with common standards imposed by the regional bloc.

An official from the Savannakhet Public Works and Transport Department, who asked not to be named, told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that Road No. 9 is one of many roads in Laos that can safely carry loads of only 9 tonnes per axle, which is substandard. "We expect the modification of roads to bring them up to standard will be complete in the next three years," he said. A 58-kilometre section of Road No. 9 has been resurfaced with two layers of asphalt, adding 10cm to the thickness of the surface. The newly surfaced section runs from Atsaphangthong to Phalanxay districts and from the Xethamuak area to Phin district. It opened to traffic in March this year. The work was funded by grant assistance from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), valued at over US$32 million. Streetlights and drainage were also included in the upgrade.

Source: Vientiane Times October 10, 2015 - Road_No9.htm

The upgrade of Highway 9 is almost completed (October 2017) - the new pavement is now ready and the road is almost like a race track - we rode from Savannakhet to the Vietnam border and Ban Nong (bamboo bridges) and back to Savannakhet in about 8 hours. There are still 2 bridges where you need to take a small detour as the new bridges (one over the Houaykam river and the bridge over the Xe Thamouak river) are not yet ready.

 

[King of Jars]

Thanks for your continuous update, greatly appreciated ;-)

 

[Lone Rider]

Road 18 A - Vietnam to fund upgrade of delayed Attapeu road


The Vietnamese government has agreed to provide a grant of over 832 billion kip (US$100 million) to upgrade a 106km section of Road No.18A in Attapeu province, running from Km 48 in Samakhixay district (Attapeu) to Pathoumphon district on Rd. 13S. The upgrade began some time ago but the government cancelled the project after work came to a halt for almost four years. The project was initiated as part of a bauxite exploration venture in Champassak province undertaken by the Sino-Lao Aluminum Corporation Co., Ltd., according to an official in charge.

Addressing the National Assembly recently, Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Souphanh Keomixay said “After we put this matter to the government of Vietnam, they kindly agreed to provide grant assistance of US$100 million so the road upgrade could be completed. We expect to resume the project next year and hope that the situation will quickly improve.”

An official involved in the project, who asked not to be named, told Vientiane Times that work on the asphalt road began in 2013 and was set to take 36 months. But only 15 percent of the work was completed. The project cost of US$76 million (about 631 million kip) was funded by Sino-Lao Aluminum Corporation Co., Ltd. When complete, the road will be nine metres wide and have 30 bridges, an official in charge said.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update October 28, 2017)

 

[Lone Rider]

No plans yet for repair of Kasy-Nan road after landslides

The road between Kasy district in Vientiane province and Nan district in Luang Prabang province is likely to remain in poor condition in the wake of several landslides, as local authorities still haven’t made plans for repairs. Director of the Public Works and Transport Department in Vientiane province, Mr Soumontha Somchanmavong, told Vientiane Times last week there are no plans to repair the road because it’s a difficult area to work on. “This section of road, which runs for 68km between the two districts, is mountainous and frequently affected by landslides in the rainy season. But we have arranged for excavators to be on standby in case the road becomes impassable,” he said.

View attachment 54478​

“We have to discuss ways to repair the road with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport,” Mr Soumontha said. In the meantime, the department is warning heavy trucks and vehicles with two-wheel drive transmission not to use this road. People travelling from Vientiane to Luang Prabang are advised not to use the road unless they have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. However, in the reverse direction from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, motorists in two-wheel-drive vehicles should be able to get through. This section of Road No. 4C is not only mountainous but also has many bends, so motorists should take great care, especially in wet conditions. Officials urge the public to use caution when travelling in the area as poor road conditions can lead to accidents. A safer route to the northern provinces is Road No. 13 North via Phoukhoun, authorities advised.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update October 9, 2017)

There are still problems on road 4C due to frequent rains which makes the road surfaces slippery:

 

[Lone Rider]

Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway works expected to start early 2018

Construction of the Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is expected to begin early next year after the governments of Laos and China signed a joint-venture investment deal on the project last week. The joint-venture agreement was among 17 cooperation documents signed during the two-day state visit to Laos by Chinese President Xi Jinping from November 13-14. Under the agreement, China will hold a 95 percent stake and the Lao government will hold the remaining 5 percent, an official in charge told Vientiane Times on Tuesday.

It will cost more than US$1.2 billion to build the road, which would link Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district, Vientiane, to the tourist hotspot of Vangvieng district in Vientiane province.
Once construction gets underway, it will take about three years to complete the 113.5-km expressway, the official said, citing the project’s Chinese developer – a state construction enterprise from Yunnan province. The new road, which would include a 679-metre tunnel at Phoupha Mountain, will be considerably shorter than the 156 km. route that currently exists using Road No. 13 North.

It was previously reported that the expressway would be developed in parallel with Road No. 13 North and the under-construction Laos-China railway. The short-cut expressway will save drivers a significant amount of time as they can reach much higher speeds compared to the present route, which is mountainous and winding. Speeds on the expressway would be set at 100km per hour on the flat terrain from Sikeuth village in Vientiane to Phonhong district in Vientiane province, and at 80 km per hour through the more mountainous section between Phonhong and Vangvieng districts.

Drivers using the expressway can expect to pay 400-500 kip per kilometre, which will amount to 45,200-56,500 kip between Vientiane and Vangvieng. The Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is the first section of the planned Vientiane-Boten expressway, which the Lao government and the Chinese developer plan to jointly build to link Vientiane with the northern province of Luang Namtha, which borders China. After construction of the Vientiane-Vangvieng section has begun, the authorities in charge will survey the second section between Vangvieng and Luang Prabang province and then the third section linking Luang Prabang and Luang Namtha’s Boten.
“The survey of all the sections is expected to be finished by July 2018,” the official said.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update November 23, 2017)

 

[Lone Rider]

Thoulakhom-Pakngum Road nears Completion - Road 0118 on the GPS map

The rebuilding of a 47-km road from Nanokkhoum village on Rd. 10 in Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province, to Naxay village on Rd. 13S in Pakngum district, Vientiane, is now more than 70 percent complete. The upgrade will provide a faster road for traffic travelling between the north and south of the country and will divert traffic away from the centre of Vientiane, helping to ease congestion in the city centre .

President of the contracting company Phinthong Co., Ltd., Mr Somphan Panyathilath, told Vientiane Times yesterday we've finished the main works such as widening the road, laying drainage pipes, filling in low areas, and grading the surface. Now we're concentrating on asphalting and have laid asphalt on three kilometres. We've also begun work on the first bridge, he added.

The project began in April 2013 and should be finished in April 2017. Over its length, the road will have eight bridges and causeways across water courses. It is expected to cost about 373 billion kip and is funded by the government. The road will have two layers of asphalt over a distance of 46 kilometres, which will be nine metres wide.

Source: Vientiane Times

Slow but Sure?

The president of the road building company may have been a bit optimistic last year as of yesterday some 20 km. has now been paved so that is about 17 km. additionally paved in 1 year. The paved stretch has 3 bridges under construction but nothing was happening at the construction sites so it may take a bit longer to finish the whole road. Anyway, once the road is finished, it does provide a very nice and beautiful shortcut from the Vang Vieng area to the south of Laos. Actually even now it is a very nice ride as the unpaved part has been upgraded and it is very smooth ride all the way to just east of Pak Ngum where road 118 links with road 13 South


Views from the road to the north-east

 

[Lone Rider]

Yes, the road 4C was cut but it is still or rather again usable as they have carved out a temporary road - they recommend 4WD as there are a few slippery sections - this 4WD requirement is valid for the Kasy to Nan section as the road goes steep up. Coming from the other side - Nan to Kasy - all vehicles can do it.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/pakaad/videos/1938732856371411/[/video]
The road going from Nan to Kasy

[video]https://www.facebook.com/pakaad/videos/1938733293038034/[/video]
Video showing the road going from Kasy to Nan with trucks not moving as the road is to slippery

Condition of Road 4C - Kasy on Rd. 13N to Mueang Nan on Rd. 4

The repaired section close to the viewpoint is still holding up although it looks like that landslides might happen again in the near future as parts of the road have already disappeared

Picture from July 2017


Picture from December 2017 taken more or less at the same place


By the way, on the Kasy side of Rd. 4C there are several land/road subsidences in the road with sudden "dips" across the road so be carefull and keep you speed down a bit - I hit my head against the "roof" of my truck as I was driving too fast

 

[2wheels]

" ... I hit my head against the "roof" of my truck as I was driving too fast. "

Time to fit a sunroof Auke!

 

[Lone Rider]

Road No. 4B to have asphalt surface

National Road No. 4B, which links the two provinces of Xayaboury and Luang Prabang and is currently unpaved, will be surfaced with a double layer of asphalt thanks to a loan from Thailand. The government has borrowed more than 766 million baht (over 177 billion kip) from Thailand's Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) to upgrade the 113 kilometre road. An official from the Xayaboury provincial Public Works and Transport Department, who ask not to be named, told Vientiane Times on Monday an agreement to upgrade the road was signed in Xayaboury province on August 13.

The dirt road runs from Xayaboury's Hongsa district to Luang Prabang's Chomphet district but is not widely used because of the problems it causes motorists. As well as having a rough surface, the road passes through mountainous terrain. "In the future many people will choose to travel this way between Hongsa and Chomphet districts because it will take less time," the official said.

Source: Vientiane Times: Road 4B from Hongsa to Chomphet/Luang Prabang to be paved

Additional info on a new bridge from Chomphet to Luang Prabang can be found here: Mekong Bridge from Luang Prabang District to Chomphet District

Update on Road 4B

A few days ago I travelled from Luang Prabang to Hongsa along 4B. It started of very nicely on the Chomphet side and I thought that it would take me only 2 hours to reach Hongsa.



However, the road soon started to get less good. The first river crossing will be replaced by a bridge

and another new bridge under construction



After that the road got progressively worse as the contractor had prepared some quick and very rocky temporary by-passes for the places where they were carrying out major upgrades of the road. As in most places the contractor has prepared these bypasses it looks like that road closures (often up to 4 or more hours) during the construction will not be a big problems anymore







and the last river crossing which will be replaced by a new bridge = all in all I counted 5 new bridges under construction and lots of new culverts.

All in all it took me 4 hours to travel from Luang Prabang to Hongsa. At places the layer of bulldust (the very fine powdery stuff) was quite thick making the trip a very dusty affair.

So when will the road be ready? The original plan was that the road would be ready in 2018 but the contractor indicated that they encountered some problems resulting in a 4 month delay. However, to me it looks like that there will be at least a year delay so hopefully the road will be ready and paved sometime in 2019.

 

[Lone Rider]

Condition of Road 4C - Kasy on Rd. 13N to Mueang Nan on Rd. 4

The repaired section close to the viewpoint is still holding up although it looks like that landslides might happen again in the near future as parts of the road have already disappeared

Picture from July 2017
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Picture from December 2017 taken more or less at the same place
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By the way, on the Kasy side of Rd. 4C there are several land/road subsidences in the road with sudden "dips" across the road so be carefull and keep you speed down a bit - I hit my head against the "roof" of my truck as I was driving too fast

Yesterday 6 December late afternoon two trucks hit each other at the landslide area (picture copyright RAOLAUNGMAUNGLAOS)

 

[Lone Rider]

Road to the Pak Ou Caves is being upgraded

Noticed that during my recent visits to Laos work has started on upgrading the road which runs from Rd. 13N along the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves.

 

[Lone Rider]

Road building bogged down in Xaysomboun

Upgrades to three main roads connecting to previously remote Xaysomboun province are mired in difficulties, mainly attributable to problems in sourcing state funds to complete them. The main roads through large parts of the province are still unpaved which means they turn to mud whenever there has been a heavy shower. Minister of Public Works and Transport Dr Bounchan Sinthavong explained the difficulties when answering questions put by National Assembly (NA) members concerning road upgrades during the ongoing debate session.

Work to upgrade a 120 km. section of road is currently facing financial difficulties. The road is the main link from the Thabok area on road 13S in Thaphabath district of Borikhamxay province to Xaysomboun province. From Xaysomboun, this road also links with National Road No. 1D in Borikhamxay's Viengthong district, over a length of 56 km. This 120 km. long road needs to be sealed to provide a route from Xaysomboun province to Vientiane through Thabok and then link to Xieng Khuang province via National Road No. 1D, Dr Bounchan said.

Two other main routes will be surfaced with gravel but some sections of these roads passing through villages or over mountains will be sealed with asphalt.

Dr. Bounchan said they planned to rebuild a 60 km. road between the Naphaeng area on road 10 in Vientiane province and Xaysomboun province, and work was currently underway.

There are also other road links planned from Vientiane province to Xieng Khuang province via Xaysomboun province, for which a loan is being sought from the Chinese government.

Source: Vientiane Times - (Latest Update November 2, 2016)

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Government approves more funds for road building in Xaysomboun Province

The government has approved a budget of 60 billion kip for 2018 to pay for ongoing road projects in Xaysomboun province and ensure they are completed as planned. Under the arrangement, installments will be paid to the contractors this year to enable them to fast-track construction of the three roads costing 924 billion kip, which will link Xaysomboun to other provinces. Director of the Xaysomboun provincial Department of Public Works and Transport, Mr Xaysomphan Littengdercheu, told Vientiane Times on Friday that work on the three strategic road projects began in 2014, with completion planned for the end of 2015. However, the work stalled when the government couldn't pay the companies involved.

"We have now signed a new contract with the companies under which the roads will be finished in 2019," Mr Xaysomphan said. "Previously, the government was paying the companies 9 billion kip annually, which is a very small amount. This year the government has allocated 60 billion kip to pay the contractors, which should enable them to speed up their work." The government plans to pay the companies over a period of six years. The three roads will have a double layer of surfacing.

The first road connects the provincial capital Anouvong to Aotay village in Thathom district (Rd. 9301) over a distance of 30km. This road is now 90 percent complete.

The second road links Anouvong district to the Thavieng area (Rd. 1D) in Thathom district over a distance of 50km, and is currently 60 percent complete.

The third road links Namgbon village in Anouvong district to Longchaeng district over a distance of 40km. This road is now 55 percent complete.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update January 8, 2018)

 

[Lone Rider]

Road 1801 - Rd. 2w from Mueang Nga and onwards to Ban Lathan on the Mekong

GREAT CHANGES

Within the first six months of construction of the Laos-China Railway, Chinese companies have built roads running through forests and drill tunnels halfway up the mountains.

The construction section of China Railway No.8 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CREC8) is located on Laos' northern Luang Prabang area along the Mekong river, some 220 km north of capital Vientiane. The most obvious change brought about by the construction of the China-Laos railway is the new roads running through wild forests in northern Laos.

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In Muangxay-Luang Prabang area in northern Laos, the 1801 provincial road used to be a narrow, steep and bumpy dirt road curving around slopes. After being included in the construction of China-Laos railway, the China Railway International Group set up a special maintenance team to widen the road and decrease slopes. Now the road is either covered with sand stone, or blacktopped.

Source: Feature: Laos-China railway brings changes to Laos

Note LR: Ban Lathan is the location where another bridge will cross the Mekong carrying the Laos China Railway to Luang prabang

Message from Pounce who rode this track about 10 days: It is possible to do the whole track from Oudomxai south-east to Mueang Nga on Rd. 1801 to Ban Lathan on the Mekong and then onwards along a new track to Rd 13N just north of Muang Pak-Ou. According to Pounce it is possible to do this not only on a bike but also in a car although the track is quite bad at the moment just after the rainy season as it is being used to transport heavy equipment and building materials by the Chinese contractors who are building to Laos-China Railway.

 

[Lone Rider]

2013 Upgrading Road 4501 from Hinheup on Road 13 North to Ban Vang on Road 11 on the Mekong via Feuang and Meun District

The Heuangsy Bridge Construction Company is rebuilding the road at a cost of more than US$168 million in a bid to create a viable transport link with roads in other Asean countries. “We began work in March in Meuangfeuang district and have so far done almost 1 percent of the job,” company President Mr Sisavat Vongvilay told Vientiane Times on Tuesday. The company will invest the necessary capital and the government will repay them within a period of 10 years beginning in 2016. The 132 kilometre road runs from Hinheup district to Xanakham district through the two districts of Meuangfeuang and Meun. The new highway will be paved with two layers of asphalt and will have 16 concrete bridges. The road will run to the Thai border and the checkpoint in Vang village will be upgraded to an international crossing in the future.

Mr Sisavat said that in the urban centres of Hinheup, Meuangfeuang and Meun districts the road will be widened to 14 metres, but in the centre of Xanakham district it will be widened to 22 metres because at this point it will link to roads from other Asean countries. Goods trucks from the north of Laos and trucks coming from China will be able to use the road to transport goods to Thailand. It will also help to reduce congestion on Road No. 13 North. The road connects with National Highway No. 11 along the Mekong River in the west and links with Road No. 13 North in Hinheup district. Currently, the road is seriously degraded and is full of potholes. In addition, trucks cannot use this route as the existing metal bridges are too old and weight limits are imposed.

By Khonesavanh Latsaphao
Extracted from: Vientiane Times

View attachment 18303

Note by LR. The local border crossing from Ban Vang in Laos to Ban Kok Phai in Thailand was supposed to have become International a few years ago. It looks like that, once Rd 4501 is paved, this now might happen in 2016.

2015

Hinheup-Xanakham road works on track
A 132-km road being built to link Hinheup district with Feuang and Xanakham districts in Vientiane province will be surfaced with asphalt after the rainy season.
Source: Vientiane Times 25 June 2015

2017 Things move slow in Laos and Rd. 4501 - Hinheup/Feuang to Ban Vang on the Mekong (opposite Ban Khok Pai in Thailand) has now been widened and upgraded/re-aligned all the way but there is still no pavement.

2018 Major road upgrade in Vientiane province set to create international link

Road 4501 linking Hinheup district to Xanakham district in Vientiane province is 30 percent complete and is scheduled to be finished in 2023, a senior official from the province’s Meuangfeuang district has said.

The 132-km road, which will pass through Meuangfeuang and Meun districts, is expected to make a critical contribution to development in several districts of the province, especially Meuangfeuang.
The Heuangsy Bridge Construction Company is carrying out the reconstruction of this road at a cost of more than US$168 million to create a viable transport link with roads in other districts and provinces, as well as neighbouring countries.
The company has invested the necessary capital and the government is repaying it within a period of 10 years starting from 2016.

Deputy Governor of Meuangfeuang district, Mr Keochai Phommy, told Vientiane Times recently that construction of the road had begun a couple of years ago but work had been slow for several reasons.
He said the company and the government initially signed a contract for the work to be completed within a five-year period ending in 2018 but this has now been extended to 2023. Authorities in Meuangfeuang district say the upgraded road will be a significant boost for trade, investment and tourism.

According to the plan, the new highway will be paved with two layers of asphalt and will have 16 concrete bridges. The road will run to the Thai border where there is a crossing from Meun district to Thailand’s Pak Chom district. This crossing is expected to be formally recognised as an international border crossing at some point in the future.

Goods trucks from the north of Laos and trucks coming from China will be able to use the road to transport goods to Thailand. This will also reduce congestion on Road No. 13 North. The road connects with National Highway No. 11 along the Mekong River in the west, and links with Road No. 13 North in Hinheup district. Once Road 4501 is paved, a new Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge might be built but an official plan has not yet been finalised, a senior planning and investment official in Meuangfeuang district said.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update January 16, 2018)

 

[Lone Rider]

Slow but sure and slowly getting ready for a 2018 date for opening the bridge

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The Sekong bridge is ready and will be opened soon but no date was provided for the opening ceremony. Some pictures of the finished bridge - Copyright Lao-Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

 

[Lone Rider]

The Sekong bridge is ready and will be opened soon but no date was provided for the opening ceremony. Some pictures of the finished bridge - Copyright Lao-Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

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The latest news: “We plan to open the bridge on February 12. Its use is free of charge for vehicles and foot passengers,” he said.

Also on road 16B from the bridge to Dakchung and Vietnam: “We have extended the contract with the developer three times in order to continue the project, which is currently 81 percent complete. We now expect the road to be finished in June,” Mr Soutsana said. Grading of the dirt surface is complete and the contractor is paving the remaining sections of the road.

Source: http://vientianetimes.org.la

 

[Lone Rider]

Condition of Road 4C - Kasy on Rd. 13N to Mueang Nan on Rd. 4

The repaired section close to the viewpoint is still holding up although it looks like that landslides might happen again in the near future as parts of the road have already disappeared

Picture from July 2017
View attachment 56779

Picture from December 2017 taken more or less at the same place
View attachment 56780

By the way, on the Kasy side of Rd. 4C there are several land/road subsidences in the road with sudden "dips" across the road so be carefull and keep you speed down a bit - I hit my head against the "roof" of my truck as I was driving too fast

From Facebook translated from Lao to English

The Department of Land Management informs all of you that you will travel up and down to use roaf 4C from the Kasi to Mueang Nan District now has to repair the road and will close the road temporarily;

The opening hours are as follows:
* Morning: 10 am to 10:30 pm.
* Afternoon: 12:00 to 13:00.
* Evening: 15 o'clock to 17 o'clock.

 

[2wheels]

That's a lethal looking curve there Auke, especially downhill!

 

[Lone Rider]

The Sekong bridge is ready and will be opened soon but no date was provided for the opening ceremony. Some pictures of the finished bridge - Copyright Lao-Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

View attachment 58797

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View attachment 58799

Laos-Japan Friendship Bridge spans Xekong development divide

Lamam district, Xekong province: Connecting both sides of the Xekong River to provide a road link between neighbouring Lamam and Dakcheung districts in Xekong province, the new Laos-Japan Friendship Bridge was officially opened to the public on Monday.

​

A handover ceremony took place in Xekong province on Monday 12 February 2018 and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Bounthong Chitmany, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong, Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Souphanh Keomixay, Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Takeshi Hikihara and JICA Laos Office chief representative, Mr Yoshiharu Yoneyama, along with the governors and officials of Xekong, Saravan and Champassak provinces.

Construction commenced in November 2014 and is now 100 percent complete at a projected cost of 159.7 billion kip (2.2 billion Yen or US$21.4 million). Some 300 metres long and 11 metres wide, the bridge was designed and built to international standards. It is described as a mixed cable and pre-stressed concrete box girder construction with a load-bearing capacity of 80 tonnes.

Source: Vientiane Times 13 February 2018

 

[Lone Rider]

Road construction commences in Xaysomboun Province

Authorities of Xaysomboun province have reached agreement with three construction companies on Monday in relation to three new asphalt roads from Anouvong town, the new provincial capital. According to a press release Work on the construction of the three separate roads is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

A 50km long road (Road 5) from Anouvong district to Rd 1D in Thathom district in Xaysomboun province will be carried out by Thavisok Costruction Development Company Limited, worth over 356.8 billion kip.

The second road is 30km long and worth more than 263 billion kip. It runs from Phouhuaxang village to Aow Tai village in Anouvong district and will be built by Lackxay Road and Bridge Construction Company Limited.

The third road, worth around 304 billion kip, is 40km long and runs from Nam Gnone Bridge in Anouvong to Longcheng village in Longcheng district, with works to be undertaken by Chanyathilath Bridge, House, Road and Irrigation Construction Company Limted.

Adapted from: Vientiane Times

View attachment 26276

Update on the road from Nam Gnone Bridge in Anouvong to Longcheng village in Longcheng district and onwards to Paxai District and Phonsavan

Work is still ongoing on the widening and re-aligning of this road. A picture of the road taken on Monday 12 February 2018 while on our way to Long Chaeng.



They have also started upgrading of the road from Long Chaeng to Xam Thong and onwards to Paxai District and Phonsavan. The road from Long Chaeng to Xam Thong is at the moment only open before 8 AM. between 12 AM and 1 PM after 5PM. due to heavy ongoing construction work



We passed a few checkpoints without any problems but at one checkpoint at Ban Nam Siam on our way from Long Chaeng to Phaxai District we were stopped and questioned. Coming from Long Chaeng we had no problems but going to Long Chaeng from Phonsavan and Paxai you may not get permission to go to Long Chaeng.

 

[Pounce]

We got stopped at that checkpoint to Auke, they took photos of the passports & wrote down everything they could. They asked where we were going & we said Phonsavan so that may have helped us (?) get through. We stayed the night in Long Chaeng without any questions or police door knocking asking for tea money.

 

[Lone Rider]

Update on Road 4B

A few days ago I travelled from Luang Prabang to Hongsa along 4B. It started of very nicely on the Chomphet side and I thought that it would take me only 2 hours to reach Hongsa.

View attachment 56781

However, the road soon started to get less good. The first river crossing will be replaced by a bridge

View attachment 56788

and another new bridge under construction

View attachment 56782

After that the road got progressively worse as the contractor had prepared some quick and very rocky temporary by-passes for the places where they were carrying out major upgrades of the road. As in most places the contractor has prepared these bypasses it looks like that road closures (often up to 4 or more hours) during the construction will not be a big problems anymore

View attachment 56783

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and the last river crossing which will be replaced by a new bridge = all in all I counted 5 new bridges under construction and lots of new culverts.

View attachment 56786

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All in all it took me 4 hours to travel from Luang Prabang to Hongsa. At places the layer of bulldust (the very fine powdery stuff) was quite thick making the trip a very dusty affair.

So when will the road be ready? The original plan was that the road would be ready in 2018 but the contractor indicated that they encountered some problems resulting in a 4 month delay. However, to me it looks like that there will be at least a year delay so hopefully the road will be ready and paved sometime in 2019.

Hongsa-Xiengman road - Rd. 4B - completion rescheduled to end of year

The 113km National Road No. 4B, which links the two provinces of Xayaboury and Luang Prabang, is expected to be delayed despite over 70 percent of the project having already been completed. According to the project agreement, the road, which began in 2015, should be finished by April this year but it is expected that construction will be extended due to delays associated with landslides during the last rainy season. The project is now expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to the official in charge.

Director of the Public Works and Transport Department of Xayaboury province, Mr Phengxoy Phengmeuang told Vientiane Times yesterday “The first section is now 87.5 percent complete. We are now grading the surface of the road and laying asphalt.” According to the agreement, the project should be finished by April this year but we expect to extend the construction agreement,” he said. An official in charge of the second phase, who asked not be named, said that section was now 70 percent complete adding, “We are also grading the surface of the road and laying asphalt as well as building bridges along this section,” he said.



“We expect to extend the agreement until December this year because construction has been made more difficult due to 2km of landslides during the last rainy season,” the official said. The road is being built in two sections: the first runs from Napong village for 42km to Hongsa district with a width of seven metres, two traffic lanes, surfaced with a double layer of asphalt and includes construction of one bridge. The second section from the Xayaboury border to Xiengman village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province will be 71.6 km long, 7-9 metres wide and also have two traffic lanes and seven bridges.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update February 21, 2018)

 

[Lone Rider]

Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway works expected to start early 2018

Construction of the Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is expected to begin early next year after the governments of Laos and China signed a joint-venture investment deal on the project last week. The joint-venture agreement was among 17 cooperation documents signed during the two-day state visit to Laos by Chinese President Xi Jinping from November 13-14. Under the agreement, China will hold a 95 percent stake and the Lao government will hold the remaining 5 percent, an official in charge told Vientiane Times on Tuesday.

It will cost more than US$1.2 billion to build the road, which would link Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district, Vientiane, to the tourist hotspot of Vangvieng district in Vientiane province.
Once construction gets underway, it will take about three years to complete the 113.5-km expressway, the official said, citing the project’s Chinese developer – a state construction enterprise from Yunnan province. The new road, which would include a 679-metre tunnel at Phoupha Mountain, will be considerably shorter than the 156 km. route that currently exists using Road No. 13 North.

It was previously reported that the expressway would be developed in parallel with Road No. 13 North and the under-construction Laos-China railway. The short-cut expressway will save drivers a significant amount of time as they can reach much higher speeds compared to the present route, which is mountainous and winding. Speeds on the expressway would be set at 100km per hour on the flat terrain from Sikeuth village in Vientiane to Phonhong district in Vientiane province, and at 80 km per hour through the more mountainous section between Phonhong and Vangvieng districts.

Drivers using the expressway can expect to pay 400-500 kip per kilometre, which will amount to 45,200-56,500 kip between Vientiane and Vangvieng. The Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is the first section of the planned Vientiane-Boten expressway, which the Lao government and the Chinese developer plan to jointly build to link Vientiane with the northern province of Luang Namtha, which borders China. After construction of the Vientiane-Vangvieng section has begun, the authorities in charge will survey the second section between Vangvieng and Luang Prabang province and then the third section linking Luang Prabang and Luang Namtha’s Boten.
“The survey of all the sections is expected to be finished by July 2018,” the official said.

Source: Vientiane Times (Latest Update November 23, 2017)

A Chinese company has been selected to construct a highway in Vientiane Capital - Vangvieng
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport said Yunnan Engineering and Construction Company from China was the winner of the bidding for a highway construction project from Vientiane to Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, which will link the highway between Laos and China in the future. The project, which is a joint venture between Laos and China, with China holding 95% and a 5% stake in BOT, means that the company is a construction investor and takes advantage of a 30-year concession fee and then transfers it to the government. The construction will begin from three separate sections to Vangvieng district, 113 km wide, 23 meters wide, with four traffic lanes and two lanes and is expected to be ready in 2021

Source: http://champareport.com/2018/02/20/ - FEBRUARY 20, 2018

 

[2wheels]

So that's about 200 baht to use the new road.
Wonder if that will apply to bikes as well.
Wow, Laos is rapidly becoming another Province of China.

 

[Lone Rider]

Road 5101 from Ban Phamueang (north of Paksane) and Thasi on road 1D



This road had a big problem in 2016 as the pavement had broken up and more or less disappeared making it very slippery during the rainy season and lots of buses and cars got stuck in the mud



They have been upgrading this road and the part from Thasi to Nam Xan bridge is now newly paved and more or less ready. They have also started paving the road from the Ban Phameuang side but in between - basically from the Nam Xan bridge to Ban Phameuang - still some more work needs to be done but hopefully everything will be ready before the next rainy season starts.

A picture of the upgraded road between Thasi and the Nam Xan bridge: