Skip to main content

Thailand rekindles interest in the motorway in Bang Pa-in

The Thai government expects to announce contractors for construction of two motorway sections this month after steel price hikes derailed a recent tender process. The sections are part of the 196km motorway connecting Bang Pa-in district in Ayutthaya with Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast, according to a report in the Bangkok Post. The project, costing nearly US$2 billion, is divided into 40 sections, 25 of which are scheduled to be built this year. But the Highways Department has signed only one con
July 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Thai government expects to announce contractors for construction of two motorway sections this month after steel price hikes derailed a recent tender process.

The sections are part of the 196km motorway connecting Bang Pa-in district in Ayutthaya with Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

The project, costing nearly US$2 billion, is divided into 40 sections, 25 of which are scheduled to be built this year. But the Highways Department has signed only one contractor so far, for construction of a 3.6km section in Saraburi, the Post reported. The department had to cancel the bidding on five sections because the winners -- Italian-Thai Development and Nawarat Patanakarn – raised their prices after a 40% rise in steel prices.

The Post quoted unnamed sources in the Highways Department saying discussions failed between the government and two winners to reach a new price, meaning another bidding round will be scheduled. The department is also now revising its own cost estimates for the highway construction.

Related Content

  • Thailand motorway link now being planned
    August 30, 2019
    A new 18km motorway link is being planned in Thailand that will cost an estimated US$1.2 billion. The highway will be an extension of the existing Don Muang Tollway. This will provide an improved connection between the existing M5 and M6 motorways as well as Nakhon Ratchasima, lying to the north east of capital Bangkok. The tender process for this 18km tollway extension project is expected in 2021, with two contracts being offered. The project is likely to be handled under the PPP model, with actual constru
  • Implementation of road building projects in Russia’s Moscow may be significantly delayed
    May 15, 2014
    Implementation of some large-scale investment projects for road building in Russia’s capital Moscow may be significantly delayed A series of major documentation issues are the cause of the problem. These have delayed projects for up to nine tenders on the total sum of US$2.6 billion (95 billion rubles), with anomalies having been found by the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service.
  • Building New zealand's landmark tunnel
    February 15, 2012
    A landmark tunnelling project is commencing in New Zealand - Kristina Smith reports. New Zealand is preparing to embark on its biggest transport project ever. In August it announced that it had selected its preferred bidder for the NZ$1.4 billion Waterview Connection in Auckland, 5km of new motorway connecting highways to the North and South of the city.
  • New Thailand highways to link cities
    March 14, 2016
    A series of major highways in Thailand will link key cities. The work is planned to be carried out over the next five years. The contracts are worth a total of US$3.6 billion. New highways will connect Kanchanaburi and Nonthaburi as well as Nakhon Ratchasima and Ayutthaya. Work on the Nakhon Ratchasima - Ayutthaya highway is expected to commence in May 2016 according to the Transport Ministry. Meanwhile work on the Kanchanaburi – Nonthaburi highway is expected to commence in December 2016.