The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a $77.1m loan to the Thai Government for its highway expansion project.

The loan is expected to cover 43% of the total cost of the project estimated at $179.4m.

The project includes converting a two-lane road into a four-lane highway in northern and central Thailand. It is expected to be complete by the middle of 2014, according to nasdaq.com.

The ADB is granting $1m in technical assistance to lay the groundwork for an intercity road network connecting parts of eastern and central Thailand.