The construction of the fifth Thailand-Laos Friendship Bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. The 1,350-metre-long bridge will connect the Mekong River linking Borikhamxay province in Laos and Bueng Kan province in Thailand. The bridge will be added to the network that includes four other bridges over the Mekong River connecting Vientiane to Nong Khai, Savannakhet to Mukdahan, Khammuan to Nakhon Phanom, and Huayxai to Chiang Khong.
As of November 2023, the construction works are 80 per cent completed. The project is financed through a THB1.38 billion loan from Thailand’s Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA), with costs being jointly shared between the two countries.