61 billion baht Motorway 8 project to begin in 2027
The initial phase of the Motorway 8 (M8) project, designed to connect Nakhon Pathom to Ratchaburi, is set to start in 2027, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
This month, the Department of Highways is poised to submit a proposal for the first phase of the M8 project, valued at 61 billion baht (US$1.78 million). This phase will extend 61 kilometres from Nakhon Pathom province to Pak Tho district in Ratchaburi province.
Pending Cabinet approval, the project will advance to the bidding and land acquisition stages, with construction anticipated to start in 2027, aiming for completion by 2031.
For the second phase, which covers a 48-kilometre stretch from Pak Tho to Cha-Am district in Phetchaburi, the Department of Highways intends to initiate a new route study.
The study aims to reduce the impact of land expropriation in Phetchaburi, where previous plans encountered local opposition. The study is projected to start this year and is expected to take one year to finalise.
Suriya highlighted the project’s importance in offering an alternative route to the south and alleviating traffic congestion on Rama II Road. The M8 motorway will feature a four-lane design with two lanes in each direction, an 80-metre-wide road reserve, three rest areas, seven entry and exit points, and a toll system based on travel distance, reported Bangkok Post.
This initiative is part of the 20-year Master Plan for Expressway Development (2017 to 2036) and aligns with the North-South Economic Corridor strategy.
Upon completion, the motorway will play a vital role in linking central and southern Thailand, enhancing logistics efficiency, and reducing traffic on Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road).
Additionally, it is expected to bolster economic and tourism prospects in the western and southern regions.
Last year, the Cabinet approved a major infrastructure initiative: a 35-kilometre M9 motorway designed to link Bangkok’s Bang Khunthian district with the Bang Bua Thong district in Nonthaburi.
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