The Ministry of Construction will call for international firms to tender for upgrading works on a 40-mile section of the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay Highway starting at Yangon, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary U Kyaw Lin said on April 10.
The upgrading works, which will use an Asia Development Bank’s loan worth US$80 million, will involve expanding the highway to a four-lane road.
“ADB will provide us a loan totalling between $60 million and $80 million and with this financial assistance, we will start the modernisation of the road,” he said at a press conference to update the public on planned projects for the rest of the year.
“We will invite international tenders. This project is going to be implemented with ADB loan. This is a plan that international companies are supposed to compete,” he said.
The 40-mile section of the highway, which is used by about 16 million vehicles a year, runs from Htauk Kyant junction to Baw Nat Gyi junction.
U Kyaw Lin said that upgrading works on the road from the 40th mile to 115th mile will continue, using a loan from China-based Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. But, he did not elaborate on that loan.
The Rest Camp which is located at mile post No 76 of the highway will be also upgraded.
Details for the loan by ADB will be finalised before it is tabled for approval from Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
A Japanese international collaboration company had pointed out that although traffic islands were effective for roads within the cities, they caused problems for highway roads.
In response, the Ministry of Construction will expand the median shoulders on the highway, change raised medians to depressed medians and convert traffic islands to water drains.
The ministry would also be constructing a new Gohteik Bridge that will connect Nawngcho and Kyaukme townships, since the Mandalay-Lashio-Muse road (most vital road for trade between Myanmar and China) currently had many corners and slopes.
The bridge would be built within the current government’s
term, he said.
Six bridges which were destroyed in Shan State due to terrorist activities will also be rebuilt so as not to cause any traffic jams.
During the one-year period under the new government, the ministry has built 205 miles of asphalt cement road, 472 miles and 5 furlongs of tar road, 413 miles and 5 furlongs of concrete road, 42 bridges spanning over 180 feet, and 102 bridges under 180 feet, said U Kyaw Lin.
Moreover, toll collection on nine bridges that connect the city areas in Yangon region was abolished on April 1 to enable easy commute for the public, to save time and to promote trade flow.
There are also plans to continue the construction of Yangon-Dala Bridge and No 3 Bago Bridge with foreign loans.
A total of 3008 apartments were built by low cost or affordable housing projects last year, and more apartments are still under construction.
These apartments are intended for low-income families, government employees, company staff and pensioners to buy on an 8 to 10 year, and 15-year installments.
Source: Myanmar Times