Condition and Capacity of Route 12, North Vietnam to Laos

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70T00666R000100130032-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 1998
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: November 24, 1961
• Content Type: MF

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Appended document contains classified information within
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Capacity to Laos
Route 12, Which extends about 250 klloaelaws (km) from Ha Tinh, North
Vietnam (N 18020',_E 105050) through the 144 Ola PASS to Thakhek, Laos
(N 17020, E 104048), is for the most pert a fair weather road motorable
by trucks during the dry season, but subject to serious deterioration dur-
ing the wet season, May to September or October. Route 12 can be roughly
divided into three sections: North Vietnam; the M4 Gia Pass and. eastern
Laos; and western Laos. The North Vietnam and western Laos sections appear
to be in fair to good condition. It is probable that these sections have
been improved or at least maintained in useable condition for trucks in
the dry season. The central section of route 12, however, is believed to
be in fair to poor condition with the worst road conditions in the area
of the MI. Gia Pass. This section, whieh was not motorable by trucks in
1959, has been improved to allow some truck traffic*
The overall capacity of route 12* is about 40 trucks each way per A
(EWPD)** in the dry season. The capacity is negligible, however, during
the vet season. The North Vietnam section from Ha Tinh to Bei Dinh, apo-
proximately 15 km from the North Vietnam-Laos border, is at least a single
lane earth road vith a capacity of 200 trucks EWPD*** in the dry season
and about 25 trucks - in the vet season. The 144 01a Pass.eastern
Laos section is probably a fair vmether motorable track with a capacity
of 40 trucks EWPD+ in the dry season and negligible capacity during the
yet season. Route 12 in the western portion of Leos--from approximately 50
to 60 km vest of the North Vietnam-Laos border to Thakhek is a single
lane earth road with a capacity of about 190 trucks EWPD In the dry sea.
son and negligible capacity in the vet season.
The characteristIcs of route 12 were derived from a variety of sources.
Based on this information as estimate was made of the number of vehicles
that the route could carry each way per day. An average vehicle load of 2.7
metric tons was used to obtain the approximate tonnages that could be moved
on this route.
** Approximately 100 tons EWPD.
*** Approximately 550 tons EWPD.
HA" Approximately 70 tons EWPD.
Approximately 100 tons EWPD.
4-+ Approximately 500 tons WM.
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