Vientiane–Boten Expressway
{{Short description|Road in Laos}}
{{Infobox road
| country = LAO
| name = Vientiane–Boten Expressway
| length_mi =
| length_km =
| length_ref =
| established =
| direction_a =
| terminus_a = Sikeut, Naxaithong, Vientiane Prefecture
| junction = 20px G8511 Kunming–Mohan Expressway
| direction_b =
| terminus_b = Boten
| photo = Vientiane–Boten Expressway - Mapillary (cEoKnQCG4VlcGB7O3zs4yg).jpg
| photo_notes = Near Boua, Naxaithong District
| section1 = Vientiane–Vang Vieng Expressway
| length_km1 = 113.5
| direction_b1 =
| terminus_b1 = Vang Vieng
| direction_a1 =
| terminus_a1 = Vientiane
| alternate_name = Lao-China Expressway
{{lang|lo|ທາງດ່ວນ ລາວ-ຈີນ}}
}}The Vientiane–Boten Expressway (officially referred to as the Lao-China Expressway) ({{langx|lo|ທາງດ່ວນ ລາວ-ຈີນ}}) is a partially completed expressway between Boten, on the China–Laos border, and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It roughly parallels Route 13.
Construction of the expressway is divided in four sections:{{Cite web|date=2020-01-19|title=ທາງດ່ວນວຽງຈັນ ວັງວຽງ ຄືບໜ້າຫຼາຍແລ້ວ ຈະສາມາດເປີດໃຊ້ໄດ້ໃນທ້າຍປີ2020ນີ້|url=https://kaotoday.com/31636/|access-date=2020-12-21|website=KaoToday|language=en-US}}
- Vientiane–Vang Vieng ({{Convert|113|km|mi|abbr=on}})
- Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang ({{Convert|137|km|mi|abbr=on}})
- Luang Prabang–Oudomxay
- Oudomxay–Boten
The first section to be completed is the Vientiane–Vang Vieng Expressway; in June 2020, it was 71% complete and, in December 2020, it was inaugurated. Preparation work for the Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang section was to commence after opening of the Vientiane–Vang Vieng section.{{Cite web|last=Citrinot|first=Luc|title=Vang Vieng Soon to Be 90 Minutes Away by Road from Vientiane|url=http://asean.travel/2018/04/22/vang-vieng-soon-to-be-90-minutes-away-by-road-from-vientiane/|access-date=2020-12-21|language=en-US}}
Vientiane–Vang Vieng Expressway
File:Vientiane_Vang_Vieng_Expressway_-_Mapillary_(scrV3AObsoV3J5zVY9gYjw).jpg
File:Vientiane–Boten Expressway - Mapillary (iKVz4HaIRA8GcJGaNrxPP2).jpg
Construction of the first section began at the end of 2018 and was initially scheduled to finish in 2021, but was already completed on 20 December 2020.{{Cite web|title=Vientiane Times|url=https://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_Vientiane_247.php|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.vientianetimes.org.la}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=1st expressway in Laos inaugurated|url=http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-12/20/content_77032384.htm|access-date=|website=}} The road shortens the trip by 43 km compared with the existing Route 13. The expressway toll will be 550 kip per kilometre, or about 62,000 kip for a one-way trip between Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
The trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng is shortened from 4 hours to 1.5 hours using the expressway.{{Cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/21/c_138326884_2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828175800/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/21/c_138326884_2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2019|title=Vientiane to Vangvieng section of China-Laos expressway under construction|work=Xinhuanet|agency=Xinhua|date=21 August 2019|access-date=15 June 2020}} Speeds on the expressway are designated at 120 km per hour on flat terrain from Sikeut village to in Vientiane Prefecture, and 80 km per hour through the more mountainous section between Phonhong and Vang Vieng Districts.{{cite news |title=Laos' super highway—the Vientiane-Vangvieng expressway is 70% complete |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/13/laos039-super-highway---the-vientiane-vangvieng-expressway-is-70-complete |accessdate=15 June 2020 |work=The Star |agency=The Vientiane Times/Asian News Network |date=13 June 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://annx.asianews.network/content/vientiane-vangvieng-expressway-40-cent-complete-104888|title=Vientiane-Vangvieng Expressway 40 per cent complete|first=Souknilundon|last=Southivongnorath|date=25 September 2019|website=Asia News Network}} The road includes double tunnels measuring almost {{Convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on}} through Phoupha Mountain.
The expressway is 95 percent owned by Chinese developer Yunnan Construction Engineering Group, who are also the developer, and five percent by the Laotian government. The cost is estimated at US$1.2 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://laotiantimes.com/2017/11/24/china-invests-vientiane-vang-vieng-expressway/|work=The Laotian Times|title=China Invests in Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway|first=Jasmina|last=Yap|date=24 November 2017}} The developer will retain a 50 year concession on tolls from the expressway.
= List of interchanges =
{{RJL|date=November 2021}}
- Vientiane
- Ban Nasone
- Ban Boua
- Ban Saka (Phonkham)
- Ban Phonhong (Nam Ngum dam)
- Muang Hinherb
- Nguem lake (Ban Vangkhi)
- Muang Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang Expressway
The Lao government has approved the construction of the second section from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, with a length of {{Convert|137|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Once completed, the travel time would be reduced from 6 hours to 90 minutes.{{Cite web|title=ລັດຖະບານລາວ ອະນຸຍາດແລ້ວ ແຜນການກໍ່ສ້າງທາງດ່ວນ ວັງວຽງ-ຫຼວງພະບາງ…..|url=https://targetlaos.com/article/56366|access-date=2021-05-04|website=Target Magazine|language=lo}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HKyAAAAIAAJ&q=travel+to+vang+vieng+to+luang+prabang|title=Laos: A Travel Survival Kit|date=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}{{Highways in Laos}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vientiane-Boten Expressway}}
{{Laos-stub}}