The Transport Ministry will seek an allocation of 140 million baht from the central budget to fund a feasibility and design study on a new bridge across the Mekong River as part of the third phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the seventh bridge linking Nong Khai with Vientiane, also known as the second Thai-Laos friendship bridge, is designed to accommodate both rail and road transport.
He said the Department of Highways will be responsible for the design study which is estimated to cost about 140 million baht.
According to Mr Saksayam, construction costs of the bridge and a small network of roads are estimated at 4 billion baht. Costs are likely to be split between Thailand and Laos and the issue will be discussed by the joint Thai-Laos committee.
The bridge project must be completed before the second…
