A major 79-kilometer section of National Road No. 13 South is set for restoration after Savannakhet authorities on 13 November approved a new plan to study, design, and upgrade the deteriorated route.
The signing ceremony took place at the Savannakhet Provincial Hall, marking the formal start of work on the section that runs from the Xe Bangfai Bridge on the Savannakhet-Khammouane border to Lak 35 village in Champhone district.
Under the agreement, Chalernchai Construction Company will fully finance the feasibility study and design phase, requiring no government contribution.
The project will follow the Output and Performance Based Road Contracts model, which ties maintenance responsibilities and performance standards directly to the contractor.
National Road No. 13 South spans 157 kilometers across Savannakhet Province, linking Khammouane in the north with Salavan in the south. Within this broader corridor, the company will be responsible for repairing and upgrading the selected section, rehabilitating bridges, and improving related infrastructure.
Officials confirmed a three-year timeline for the study and construction, after which the contractor will handle maintenance for seven years.
Compensation will come through the Public Road Toll Collection system, with the government reimbursing the company over a 10-year period using toll payments collected from vehicles weighing more than 12 tons through the banking system.
This new restoration effort will link directly with the rehabilitation project launched on 4 November in Thakhek district, Khammouane Province, extending to Xe Bangfai district.
Once both projects connect, they will strengthen the transport corridor between Savannakhet and Khammouane, improving mobility and supporting economic development in the region.


