The upgradation of National Road No. 4 to connect Luang Prabang and the Xayaboury provinces is expected to be partially completed by early 2014. About 75 per cent of the construction work has been completed so far. The 367 km road will begin at the Lao–Thai land border in Xayaboury province and terminate at Road No. 13 in Luang Prabang’s Xiengngeun district. The upgradation work is estimated to cost 181 billion kip, of which 72 billion kip has been earmarked for the new Pakkhone–Thadeua bridge over the Mekong river. About 80 per cent of the total project cost is contributed by the Republic of Korea.
