ROAD STUDY; CHINA-LAOS-BURMA BORDER AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04743A000200010001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 27, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Fe']-ease 2
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2B- V7-/63-
27 March 1963
Copy .:. of JL
MEMORANDA TOt Chief, Estimates Staff, ONE
ATTELTL1ON.
1:
FE Branch
1 Chief, CIA/PID (NPZC)
SUBJECT
t Road Study; China-Laos-Burma Border Area
CZ Requirement. No. ON /2/63 .
Project No. C 278/63
Declass Review by
NGA.
1. This memorandum is in partial response to the referenced requirement
which asks for an analysis-of recent photo coverage of selected routes in the
China-Burma-Laos border area to determine width, alignment and type of.surface
where possible; and a location and description of military installations in,
this area. The following description gives such information for the selected
routes and the enclosed annotated map shows their alignment.
2. Ssu-mao to TA-ping?chang to Chiang-cheng (and eastward to Meng-tau)
Road.
This was an.improved road with many switch backs, traversing rough
hill country of relatively steep relief. The road ranges from 15 to 20 feet in
width and is an unsurfaeed, graded earth road. Two major bridges were observedi
a deck-type, arch bridge 200.by 20 feet crossing the Lo-so Chiang (River) at
22 33N - 101 28E and adeck-type arch bridge 300 by 20 feet located approximately'
8 nl.east of Chiang-Cheng. Other smaller bridges were also noted. From Chiang-
Cheng?the road continues north approximately 11 am where construction ends. A
bridge is under construction across the Black River at 22 49N - 101 55Z-
14 Chiang-Cheng to Muong-ou-neva (Laos) to )uong-ou-tay to Boun Newa.to
No road was observed following such an alignment. A narrow road for
rural traffic, did however, extend south from Chiang-Cheng approximately 6
nautical miles.
4. Ssu-mao to Che-11 to Po-hai (Meng-hai) Ta-lo Road
From Ta-lo (21 41N - 100 o3E) to Meng-hun (21 48N - 100.23E) this road .
was single lane (estimated width 10 feet), had an earth surface and was service-
able. From Meng-hun to 21 55N'- 100 21E the alignment was considerably Improved
and the road was graded and slightly widened (estimated width 12 to 15 feet).
From 21 55N - 100 21E to Ssumao the road was two lane, has a graded earth surface,
probably strengthened by the addition of crushed stone or gravel. The road bas
been recently constructed and is in good condition. A considerable number of
curves and switch backs were observed in some sections.
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Bridges were observed at all river crossings with the exception 9f the
Mekong at Ta-lo. Here a road bridge is under construction with ten piers hiving
been completed. Work is underway on the abutments and approaches on each. bank.
When completed this bridge will be approximately 1000 feet long. Currently
traffic crosses the Mekong by ferry just south of the bridge site.
From 21 55N - 100 21Z on the Ssu-mao to Che-li to Po-hai to Ta-lo
Road a good two lane, graded, earth road probably strengthened with gravel or'
crushed stone, extends OW, passing through Nan-chiao (22 01W ? 100 15E), Meng-
man (22 09N - 100 07E) and continues on past Chen-pien (22 33N -.99 59E) where
obliquity, scale of the photography, and poor-map detail precluded tracing the
alignment further. .
Ssu-mao to Ta-ping-chang to I-pang to Chen-yueh to Meng-haing to
Meng-peng to Meng-mang Road. .
Che-li to Meng-kan to Meng-heing to Meng-pan to Boun-NevA (Laos) to
Phong-saly Road.
Meng-pan to Meng-la to Muong Yo (Laos) to Boun-Neva Road.
These three roads only exist in part and even where they do exist'they
do not follow the alignment shown on the map enclosure of the requirement nor. do
they pass through the towns mentioned.
It appears that two roads do exist but with entirely different align-
ments, and obviously different names as-shown in paragraphs A and B:
A. Che-l.i to Mein-ha-kuo to Meng-wen to Meng-la to Meng-peng Road.
This two lane road (estimated width'`?15 feet) has a graded. earth curfkce,
probably strengthened with gravel or crushed stone. It has many curves and
.switch-backs in its hilly portions and appears to be serviceable and in good
condition. Two major bridges were observed: one is single lane pontoon .
bridge 160 by 10 feet spans the Lo-so Chiang (River) at Man-ha-kuo and the
other is a two lane deck-type bridge 200 by 25 feet across a tributary of
the Lo-so Chiang at 21 50N - 101 20E.
At 21 25N - 101 20E, approximately 3.5 to SE of Meng-peng a single lane
(estimated width 8 feet) earth surfaced branch road fords the Nan-la Ho
(River) and continues south to Meng-mang (21 18N - 101 18E) where improve-
ments end.
B. Meng-La to Man-chuang to Muong Yo to Boun Neua to Phong Saly Road.
Obliquity and poor maps preclude exact alignment and determination of
width and surface for the entire route; however, it appears to-be a two
lane graded, earth surfaced road probably strengthened with gravel or
crushed atone. It has many' curves and switch-backs but appears to be
serviceable and in good condition. A deck-type bridge, 225 by 25 feet
crossing the Nan-la Bo (River), 2.5 nm south of Meng-la was observed.
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Che-li to Meng-ha to Mong Un (Burma) Road
No road following such an alignment was observed. However, a probable
two lane, graded, earth road strengthened with gravel or crushed stone extends
from its function with the Che-li to 7b-hai highway approximately one nautical
mile west of Che-li southward to Man-san (21 30N - 100 38E).
7:' Meng-pan to Meng-la to Shang-Yung to Batene (Laos) to Nam Tha Road.
This road does not appear to be in existence. A single lane unimproved
road extends north from Meng-la a few miles before becoming a trail suitable for
animals or porters: Portions of the trail have been cut through the forest v
sometime in the past as if it.were a clearing for a road; however, these,portions
are now overgrown with grass and weeds and there is no indications of any new -
road construction. .
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From Man-Chuang (21 26N - 101 39E) a single lane unimroved rural road
extends south to approximately )1o-haieh-ching (21-22N -.101 39N) before it too
becomes a trail.
8. Muong Sing (Laos). Keng Lap (Burma) Road.
Wong Sing - Nam Tha-Mien Pou Xha-Ban Houei Sal Road.
Muong Sing - Mien Pau Kira Road.
No roads through these towns or following the alignment as shown on
the map enclosure to the requirement were observed.
Obliquity precluded detailedanalysiss however, it appeared that roads
radiated from Muong Sing for a very abort distance. It was impossible to determine
whether they were improved or. whether it was only the rural traffic converging
from many trails that gave width and light tone to the surface. The above
mentioned "roads" did not extend for ar0r distance and no construction activity
was noted.
9? The enclosed annotated map shows the approximate alignment of the
oroads discussed above:
Alm Series 1301 Sheet NF 47 6th Ed. (7-62) CIAA/PID/IB-P-78/63
10. That portion of the requirement requesting location and description of
any-military installations observed between 100 CON - 102 CON and 20 40N - 22 CON
will follow at a later date.
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U. The photo analysts on re 25X1
who may be contacted on should you have further questions 25X:1
regarding this project.
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ENCLOSURE: 1 annotated map
A V
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