A road upgrade linking Loei in Thailand with Luang Prabang in Laos will be completed in April, a project official says.
The official, who requested anonymity, told The Vientiane Times that the 367km road from Xayaboury province in Laos that will connect to Road 13 to the old Lao capital will be ready before the Lao New Year in April.
The road starts from Lao territory opposite Tha Li district in Loei, where an international bridge linking the two countries has been opened to boost trade and tourism.
"We plan to complete this section of the road before Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao)," the newspaper on Wedneday quoted the official as saying.
The first 62km section of the road is being paved and will be completed by the end of this year.
The project, including the bridge construction, was costing 181 billion kipe (718 million baht), with 80% of the cost lent by South Korea.
The upgraded road is part of the transport network improvement in the Greater Mekong Subregion.