The second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in a special economic zone in Tak province is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Deputy Minister of Transport Akhom Termphithayaphaisit has traveled to Mae Sot district in Tak to inspect the readiness of the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge construction. Highway district officers had started leveling the ground on both Thai and Myanmar sides.

The Deputy Minister said the government had declared Mae Sot a special economic zone on the Tak border and the overall development of the area had much progressed, especially the construction of the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and a four-kilometer road. Budget for the construction of the bridge and the road totaled 3.9 billion baht, he added.

The bridge and the road are expected to help reduce traffic congestion at the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. The 24-month construction of the bridge has been set to begin in July this year by the Department of Highways.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein will jointly lay the foundation stone for the bridge.

(Source: VNA)