PHITSANULOK: An elevated traffic bridge linking the East-West economic corridors has been opened.
The 849-million-baht Indochina Intersection Bridge took the Highways Department 2½ years to complete.
It runs over the intersection formerly known as Rong Pho between Highways 11 and 12 in the lower-northern province.
Jessada Boonrawd, director of the Wang Thong highway district, said the construction was 100% complete, with only some signals installations and decoration remain to be done.
He expected the four-lane traffic will be 80% of its capacity.
Underneath, a roundabout linking the central and northern regions is projected to be 20% used. It can be expanded to support more traffic linking the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) in the future, he added.
The Indochina Intersection is a landmark on the EWEC, which links Yangon in Myanmar; Tak, Phitsanulok and Khon Kaen in Thailand; Savannakhet in Laos; and Danang in Vietnam. It is also a key crossroads on the Muang bypass around Phitsanulok.
As well, it is a key section of the North-South Economic Corridor (Kunming-Bangkok).
Highways under both projects cross in Phitsanulok and Tak.