Construction of Myanmar’s Bago-Kyaik Hto Expressway to commence in 2022
Construction of an expressway connecting the city of Bago and Kyaik Hto township in Mon State is expected to start in fiscal 2022-23, U Aung Myint Oo, Director General of Department of Highways under the Ministry of Construction, told the Myanmar Times.
This comes after the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week approved a US$483.8 million loan to build the 64-km expressway.
“Detailed design work is currently underway for the project. We will continue to work on compensation for the residents who live along the road area,” U Aung Myint Oo said.
The project, which is expected to be complete in fiscal 2028-29, will include a 2.3-km bridge across the Sittaung River. The Japan International Cooperation Agency will finance the New Sittaung Bridge construction with a ¥27.8 billion loan.
The project falls under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) East West Economic Corridor (EWEC) from Bago to Kyaik Hto, The 4-lane asphalt concrete highway with 3.5-meter wide carriageway, 2.5-meter wide median and 2.5-meter wide shoulder on each side will also provide easier access to the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon.
The EWEC connects Thailand with Thilawa SEZ, and onwards to Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy.
The project will facilitate more efficient and safer movement of goods and people within Bago Region, Mon State and Yangon Region by reducing travel time, shortening travel distance, minimising transport costs and improving regional connectivity with Thailand and other GMS regions.
The project will also help improve the ability of the Ministry of Construction to manage the country’s major toll highways and implement social and environmental safeguards. It will include a new community-based road safety program for villagers along the Bago – Kyaikto corridor.
Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/construction-bago-kyaik-hto-expressway-commence-2022.html
