Bangkok (VNA) – Construction of a new bridge linking Thailand and Malaysia in the southernmost Thai province of Narathiwat could start in April next year, according to Trakul Thotham, governor of Narathiwat.
Thotham revealed the information to a delegation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), who was visiting three southernmost provinces of Thailand from June 11-13 to explore cooperation opportunities in the region with a large Muslim population.
The governor said the start of construction will depend on the completion of the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
According to the public relations office of Narathiwat, the new bridge will promote economic and tourism activities between the two neighbours.
The new bridge crossing the Kolok river was first approved in 2009 to ease traffic on the existing bridge. It will be erected parallel to the present bridge, with a road surface about twice as large to better handle traffic flows.
Last week, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the environmental impact assessment for constructing the new bridge is expected to be completed in September this year.
The Thai government has spent 160 million THB (over 4.3 million USD) on this project. The construction costs will be divided equally by the two countries./.
