Repairs to National Highway No. 22, a key transport route connecting Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces, are progressing steadily and are expected to be fully complete by May 2026.
The section under repair runs for 68.5 kilometres, stretching from the junction with Route 13 North at Viengkeo village in Kasy district, Vientiane province, through the 9km mountainous Phou 9 Lak area, to Pongdong village in Nan district, Luang Prabang province.
The upgrade is expected to significantly improve safety and ease of travel between the two provinces.
Head of the Department of Public Works and Transport in Vientiane province, Mr Khammone Sisonsack, said the Phou 9 Lak section of National Highway 22 is frequently in poor condition because of harsh weather conditions.
Heavy rainfall and landslides have repeatedly blocked the road and drainage channels, causing major disruption and creating dangerous conditions for motorists.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, the upgrade is being fully financed by the contractor, with work having begun in early October.
Initial repair works have already been completed so the road can remain open to traffic, but heavy trucks are still banned while resurfacing is underway, with the restriction likely to remain in place until January 31.
Asphalt is currently being laid on the most challenging and steep sections of the Phou 9 Lak area, with resurfacing expected to be complete by early January.
The entire highway will be upgraded to ASEAN road standards, capable of supporting loads of up to 11 tons per axle.
Upon completion of the upgrade, the contractor plans to seek government approval for the payment of tolls by road users, with a pay station proposed at the Phou 9 Lak viewpoint.
Under the plan, a toll would be applied to privately owned vehicles with yellow plates and commercial or business vehicles with white plates.
State-owned vehicles with red plates and vehicles belonging to technical or international organisations with blue plates will be exempt.
In addition, local residents, civil servants, police, and military personnel from Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces travelling on the road for work purposes, and people visiting the Phou 9 Lak viewpoint without crossing the mountain pass, will not be charged.
Officials say the upgrade of this important arterial route will contribute to regional development, improve road safety, and facilitate tourism and commercial activity in the area.
Upgrade of National Highway 22 on track for completion by mid-2026
