Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ ๓
ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທີສາມ
Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge; สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ ๓; ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທີສາມ
Coordinates	17°29′33″N 104°43′42″E / 17.4925°N 104.7283°E
Carries	Motor vehicles
Crosses	Mekong River
Locale	At Samat, Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand ; Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Laos
Official name	Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Box girder bridge
Total length	1423 m
Width	13 m
History
Opened	11 November 2011
Location

The Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai: สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 3, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn mít.trā.pʰâːp tʰāj lāːw hɛ̀ŋ tʰîː sǎːm]; Lao: ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທີສາມ, pronounced [kʰǔa̯ mīt.tā.pʰâːp láːw tʰáj hɛ̄ŋ tʰīː sǎːm]) over the Mekong is a bridge that connects Nakhon Phanom Province in Thailand with Thakhek, Khammouane Province in Laos. The bridge's foundation stone was laid on 6 March 2009, and it opened for traffic on 11 November 2011.^[1]^[2] The bridge is 1,423 metres long and 13 metres wide.^[3]

The name "Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge" was previously also used to refer to the planned bridge from Chiang Khong, Thailand to Houayxay, Laos, but this bridge is now known as the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.

Traffic on the bridge drives on the left, as in Thailand, while traffic in Laos drives on the right; the lane-change is on the Laos side.

References