Second bridge to be built from Myawaddy to Mae Sot next year
Second bridge to be built from Myawaddy to Mae Sot next year
Eleven Media, 24 Aug 2014
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7326:second-bridge-to-be-built-from-myawaddy-to-mae-sot-next-year&catid=44:n
Myanmar has agreed to a second Friendship Bridge being built over the River Moei at Myawaddy, where many commodities are traded with business people in Thailand.
Construction is expected to start in early 2015 and be completed later in the year.
A source who attended a meeting on Friday between officials and engineers from Myanmar and Thailand in Mae Sot, across from Myawaddy, said the two sides agreed that Thailand will build a four-lane bridge nearly one mile north of the current bridge. The aim is to allow a swift flow of trade.
More than three billion baht (Ks 91.48 billion) will be spent on the second bridge, which will be capable of carrying up to 100 tonnes.
The approach road from Myanmar will be built according to international standards.
The first Friendship Bridge constructed by Thailand was launched on August 15, 1997. See Same Company based in Thailand spent 40 million baht renovating the bridge from July 2006 to boost its durability. Further renovation work was finally completed on June 1 this year.
With the Thai army seizing power in late May, only a limited flow of commodities has been permitted across the Moei from jetties on the river since then. Traders in Myawaddy said a second Friendship Bridge was needed because of an increase in trucks passing over the bridge.
“At the present position, traffic jams always occur on the Friendship Bridge. On completion of the second bridge, the flow of commodities will be easier to access and Myawaddy border area will be crowded,” a merchant from Myawaddy said.
Construction is expected to start in early 2015 and be completed later in the year.
A source who attended a meeting on Friday between officials and engineers from Myanmar and Thailand in Mae Sot, across from Myawaddy, said the two sides agreed that Thailand will build a four-lane bridge nearly one mile north of the current bridge. The aim is to allow a swift flow of trade.
More than three billion baht (Ks 91.48 billion) will be spent on the second bridge, which will be capable of carrying up to 100 tonnes.
The approach road from Myanmar will be built according to international standards.
The first Friendship Bridge constructed by Thailand was launched on August 15, 1997. See Same Company based in Thailand spent 40 million baht renovating the bridge from July 2006 to boost its durability. Further renovation work was finally completed on June 1 this year.
With the Thai army seizing power in late May, only a limited flow of commodities has been permitted across the Moei from jetties on the river since then. Traders in Myawaddy said a second Friendship Bridge was needed because of an increase in trucks passing over the bridge.
“At the present position, traffic jams always occur on the Friendship Bridge. On completion of the second bridge, the flow of commodities will be easier to access and Myawaddy border area will be crowded,” a merchant from Myawaddy said.