Herbertd,
Pic above: Current stage of Mukdahan /Savan bridge
I am at the moment in Savanakhet and the ferry is running but not in the normal location. From the Laos side, the crossing has moved upriver.
Starting at the Passenger Ferry building, go along the Mekong river road north for 8.5 km. There is no way to miss the new site, there is such a backlog of trucks that it will take a good week or so to get them across.
The Laos customs and immigration have moved there as well and when asked, the customs man said no problem with the motorbike into Laos.
From the Thai side, I can only say from riding around previously but go along the river road north and it looks to be 3 - 4 km from the bridge. On the good news, it is a straight shot across the river, no more than 10 minutes. When you arrive in Laos, turn right and into town.
Pic above: Evening on the Mekong, note how the island between Laos and Thailand is SEVERAL meteres out of the water.
On the even better side of staying in Savanakhet, The Lao Lao Der hotel is a huge improvement to the staying here scene. Located about 1 km out of town on the Mekong, great rooms, excellent deck overlooking the river, pretty damn good food and sexy little Lao girls hanging out. Hope my girlfriend will find it as nice as I do.
Pic Above: Why I love Laos, beers on the Mekong in Savan
Pic above: Mekong 25 km, Thai side from opposite side of VTE
Ride Safe