Laos-Cambodia road link planned


Photo: Laos cambodia border gate

The triangle of land where the Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian borders meet will be developed, after the Japanese government provided funding assistance of US$20 million.

The Lao part of the development triangle is located in Attapeu province in southern Laos . The province borders Vietnam and Cambodia and has five districts – Xaysettha, Samakhixay, Sanamxay, Sanxay, and Phouvong.

“ Laos has received US$8 million of this funding,” Deputy Secretary to Attapeu Provincial Governor, Mr Khammuan Vongphachanh, said by telephone yesterday.

Two of the five districts in Attapeu province are considered to be amongst the poorest in the country, where there is a lack of basic infrastructure, especially roads and electricity.

An asphalt road connecting Attapeu to Vietnam was built several a few years ago, but there is no road access to Cambodia . Only Champassak province currently has a road link to Cambodia , Mr Khammuan said.

As part of development plans to take the province out of poverty by 2010, a road link between Attapeu and Cambodia is planned.

A planned motorway between Attapeu and Vietnam , passing through Phouvong district, is currently undergoing surveying and design.

“We are not yet sure when the road will be complete, but when the surveying is finished we should have a clearer idea,” Mr Khammuan said.

The province will use money from the development fund to construct the new road, which will include bridges across the Xekong and Xekhaman rivers.

Road access from the main town to the border area of Phouvong district is restricted during the wet season, as vehicles often cannot cross the rivers because ferry services are frequently halted due to strong currents.

“There are no asphalt roads in our district,” Phouvong District Governor Bounnoy Salangkong said.

“Once complete, the road will help reduce poverty because people will have better access to markets between Laos and Cambodia where they can sell their agricultural produce and handicraft goods,” Mr Khammuan said.
 
Source: vientianetimes