The “Friendship Bridge” is located about 19km south east of Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and at the west side of the town of Nong Khai, Thailand. It provides an important economic link between the two countries and completes the Asian Highway A12 route between Bangkok and Vientiane. Moreover, the project is a symbol of peace in the area. SMC, in association with Maunsell (AECOM), were responsible for structural design of the bridge which is a precast concrete structure using match-cast balanced cantilever construction. Measuring 1,174m long and 12.7m wide, it is a single carriageway highway bridge with 1,300m of approach roadway on embankments and 700m of associated river bank protection works. The bridge is capable of accommodating a future single railway track located along the deck centre line, as well as providing a minimum navigation clearance of 10m above high water level for a width of 60m in the central span of the bridge.

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