| Kunming–Bangkok Road | |
| S: | 昆曼公路 |
| T: | 昆曼公路 |
| P: | Kūnmàn Gōnglù |
| W: | K'unman Kunglu |
| Also Known As: | Kunming–Bangkok Expressway |
| S2: | 昆曼高速公路 |
| T2: | 昆曼高速公路 |
| P2: | Kūnmàn gāosùgōnglù |
| W2: | K'unman kaosukunglu |
| Collapse: | yes |
Kunming–Bangkok Expressway is a proposed international expressway running from Kunming, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China, to Bangkok, Thailand via Laos The first expressway sections were opened in 2008.[1]
The expressway will be approximately 1900km (1,200miles) in length when complete; about 730km (450miles) was completed from Kunming via Xiaomenyang to Jinghong) and crossing the Lao border at Mohan, all in Yunnan, by 2017 [2] and the next 250km (160miles) of the Highway, south of China within Laos follows Route 13 then Route 3.
It was jointly funded by China, Laos, Thailand and the Asian Development Bank.
It traverses jungle and highlands in southern Yunnan and Northern Laos before entering Thailand at Chiang Khong. It then continues southward, largely following Thai Route 1, which becomes an Expressway standard road near Bangkok but which is largely an at grade dual carriageway along most of its length within Thailand
The entire road is a non Expressway standard undivided 2 lane highway within Laos as of May 2019.
| Section | Length (km)1 | National Route | Status and comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yunnan, CN | ||||
| Kunming – Yuxi | (86km (53miles)) | G8511 | 6-lane expressway completed (1999) | |
| Yuxi – Yuanjiang | (112km (70miles)) | G8511 | 4-lane expressway completed (2000) | |
| Yuanjiang – Mohei | (147km (91miles)) | G8511 | Expressway Completed (Dec 2003) | |
| Mohei – Simao | (71km (44miles)) | G8511 | Expressway Completed (Apr 2011) | |
| Simao – Xiaomenyang | (97km (60miles)) | G8511 | Expressway Completed (Apr 2006) | |
| Xiaomenyang – Mohan/Boten | (217km (135miles)) | G8511 | Expressway Completed | |
| LAO | ||||
| Mohan/Boten (Yunnan) – Nateuy | (20km (10miles)) | Route 13 | Highway Completed | |
| Nateuy – Luang Namtha – Ban Houayxay | (242km (150miles)) | Route 3 | Highway Completed | |
| TH | ||||
| Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge – Chiang Khong | (18km (11miles)) | 1356 | Divided highway | |
| Chiang Khong – Chiang Rai | (113km (70miles)) | 1020 | Divided highway alt route 1174/1098/1173 under construction | |
| Chiang Rai – Chai Nat | (562km (349miles)) | 1 | Divided highway (named Phahonyothin Road) | |
| Chai Nat – Bang Pa-In | (194km (121miles)) | 32 | Divided highway | |
| Bang Pa-In – Bangkok | (49km (30miles)) | 1/31 | Divided highway (named Phahonyothin Road & Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) |
1Some distances on existing roads if expressway distances unavailable
Expressways also planned or under construction: Kunming to Mandalay (Burma) and Kunming to Hanoi (Vietnam).Expressway completed between Vang Vieng and Vientiane in 2020.[3]