A bridge crossing the Kok River was unveiled on Saturday in Chiang Rai's Muang district as part of a plan to accommodate tourism and the growing economy as well as support logistics and connect with neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over the opening of the bridge, which is part of the Highway Department's project to construct a detour around Chiang Rai to accommodate growing traffic between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and connect with Route R3A, which links Laos to Xishuangbanna and Yunnan provinces in China.
The 21-kilometre Chiang Rai detour involves the construction of an inbound-outbound four-lane route and the construction of four bridges and eight U-turns.
When completed, the project will boost the flow of traffic along a network of highways which will be developed to connect with neighbouring countries, increase the country's competitiveness and help ease traffic congestion on the country's major highways, according to the Department of Highways.
The project will also boost trade, investment and tourism in the region, the department said.
Meanwhile, highways officials in Tak province said Gen Prayut will lead a delegation to open the second Thai-Myanmar bridge over the Moei River at Bang Want Takhian Tai in tambon Tha Sai Luad in Mae Sot district. Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will reportedly attend the opening ceremony on Tuesday.
The bridge will serve as a gateway for trade, investment and tourism between Thailand and Myanmar under the East-West Economic Corridor, an economic development programme initiated to promote development and integration between Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
This second bridge will help ease the overcrowding of freight lorries on the 1st Thai-Myanmar bridge.
Recently, authorities in Myawaddy have banned large freight lorries from using the first bridge, causing a 4km tailback of traffic from the border checkpoint at the bridge to the international airport in Mae Sot district of Tak.
After the opening of the second bridge, it is expected that the bridge, along with the new six-lane route between central Tak and Mae Sot, will boost the value of border trade at the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border pass. Currently, the volume trade there is estimated at between 70-80 billion baht annually, the department said.
