Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, right, shakes hands with Myanmar Construction Minister U Kyaw Lwin in the signing ceremony in Naypyidaw on Thursday. (Transport Ministry photo)
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith signed an official agreement on Thursday for the construction of a second Thai-Myanmar bridge across the Moei River from Mae Sot district of Tak province.
The minister said he signed the deal with Myanmar Construction Minister U Kyaw Lwin in Naypyidaw on Thursday. Thailand’s Highways Department is responsible for the construction of the bridge and the 3.91-billion-baht cost.
“The transport connection between Thailand and Myanmar will facilitate the growing number of travellers and cargo and support the special economic zone in Mae Sot,” Mr Arkhom said.
The project includes roads on the Thai and Myanmar sides costing 1.8 billion baht, the new bridge worth 800 million baht and Thai and Myanmar border checkpoint buildings worth 1 billion baht.
The construction cost on the Myanmar side was estimated at 310 million baht. The construction period is set for two years.
The bridge and connecting road project would be part of an east-west route from Myanmar via Thailand and Laos to Vietnam.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/688516/2nd-thai-myanmar-bridge-signed
