Skip to main content

Thailand highway development programme

Thailand has set out plans for an ambitious highway development programme.
By MJ Woof July 15, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Thailand’s holiday destination of Phuket will be one part of the country to benefit from a new highway link - image © courtesy of Sarah Biswell

Thailand is setting out plans for an ambitious highway and road development programme. The programme will help improve transport links with the country’s neighbours, with eight new highways being planned.

The Ministry of Transport of Thailand is working on the transport network development programme. In all, the eight new highways will total close to 5,000km.

The longest route will be a 1,660km highway running between Songkhla and Chiang Rai, whie Nong Khai and Laem Chabang will be connected by a 490km highway, and Surin and Bung Kan will be joined by a 470km highway.

An 880km highway will connect Ubon, Ratchathani and Tak, while a 710km highway will link Tak with Nakhon Phanom. A 310km highway will link Sa Kaeo with Kanchanaburi, while a 220km highway will connect Kanchanaburi and Trat. In addition, a 190km highway will run between Surat Thani and Phuket.

Construction of the first sections of the highways should commence in 2022 or 2023. The highways will likely be built under the PPP model. New towns will be developed along these highway routes also.

Related Content

  • Morocco's road programme boosts economy
    February 9, 2012
    A major road programme instigated by King Mohammed VI of Morocco is helping to boost the country's economy and modernise infrastructure. This forms part of a plan to boost tourism, a key part of the country's income from 8 - 10 million. There were less than 300km of motorways existing when King Mohammed VI inherited the throne from his father in July 1999. Since then, the figure has increased to over 1,000km and this is set to almost double in the next five years. A hugely significant highway programme was
  • Plans in hand for Uganda’s key highway upgrade
    July 25, 2014
    In Uganda planning is underway for the upgrade of the Kampala-Jinja route. Preparations are being made for a new tolled highway connecting with capital Kampala. The upgrade will see the route being widened with four lanes for much of the length, six lanes on the approach to Kampala and up to eight lanes where vehicle densities will be heaviest to carry the capital’s traffic. The construction work is expected to cost some US$74 million and the new link will connect with the existing Kampala-Entebbe highway.
  • Chile’s new urban highway link
    May 2, 2022
    Nestling in a valley beside the Andes mountain range, Santiago has a growing population and has suffered from increasingly heavy congestion in recent years, requiring a new urban road link for which safety has been set as a priority for drivers - *iRAP reports
  • Bangladesh expressway project under development
    November 20, 2018
    Progress is being seen in Bangladesh on the project for a new expressway connecting the capital Dhaka with the second city, Chittagong.