An official from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, who asked not to be named, told Vientiane Times on Monday parts of Road No. 13 North through Vientiane province are breaking up following damage during last year’s rainy season but there were plans afoot to remedy the situation.

“We have a plan to alter parts of Road 13 North and Road 13 South to make them into two- and four-lane highways starting from Vientiane,” he said.

Right now, a study on toll-way development has finished and the ministry is assessing the pros and cons of upgrading the arterial highway to cater for the increasing traffic volume.

Road 13 North may be rebuilt from the Sikeut junction in Vientiane to the bus station in Vangvieng district, a distance of 142 kilometres.

Under consideration is a plan to make 57km of the road, running from the Sikeut junction to Phonhong district in Vientiane province, into a four-lane highway, followed by an 85km two-lane stretch from there to Vangvieng, all of which would be asphalted.

On Road 13 South, the starting point is identified as the Dongdok intersection in Vientiane with redevelopment all the way to Sivilay village in Borikhamxay province, a total length of 141km.

Meanwhile, a 100-km section between the Phoupha area in Phonhong district and Kasy district in Vientiane province is proving quite problematic for m otorists.

The poor condition of the road is causing distress to travellers, who are jolted unpleasantly as they pass over the many bumps.

Every year sections of various roads and bridges around the country are damaged by floods and landslides as a result of torrential rain.

Roads also rapidly deteriorate due to the frequent passage of heavy trucks carrying timber, cement, rocks and other loads.

According to the Vientiane provincial Public Works and Transport Department, the current problem has occurred because of the age of the road. It was also built to withstand only loads of 9 tonnes per axle, but many trucks carry heavier loads.