Cha-am–Hua Hin highway upgrade to boost travel and tourism
Thailand is paving the way for a smoother ride, literally, as the government pushes forward with a massive upgrade of Highway 37, better known as the Cha-am Bypass, in a project set to ease traffic woes, enhance road safety, and drive tourism and economic growth along the Gulf coast.
Spanning 50 kilometres between Cha-am in Phetchaburi and Pranburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the mega project is being spearheaded by the Department of Highways and funded across multiple fiscal years from 2023 to 2025.
With a budget of 7 billion baht, the plan includes expanding the road from four to six lanes, constructing six grade-separated interchanges, and developing 17 U-turn points.
The upgraded highway will feature three 3.5-metre lanes in each direction, separated by a wide median with concrete barriers, and enhanced with 2.5-metre outer shoulders and 1-metre inner shoulders. Several sections are already complete, with the rest progressing toward the final goal of a 2026 finish.
The route begins at the Cha-am interchange on Phetkasem Road and passes key locations including Silpakorn University, Wat Huai Mongkol, and the Hua Hin District Office, before reconnecting with Phetkasem Road near Pranburi.
The road runs through three important districts, Cha-am, Hua Hin, and Pranburi, forming a crucial link for locals, commuters, and tourists.
Backed by Thailand’s 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027), the expansion aims to improve transport connectivity across upper southern Thailand. Daily traffic on the route was around 29,000 vehicles in 2020, and is expected to rise to 35,000 by 2026, and a whopping 53,000 by 2044.
To improve safety and traffic flow, the plan includes six major interchanges and a variety of U-turn designs, including flyovers, under-bridge passages, and environmentally-friendly culverts for small vehicles and animals. Aesthetic upgrades such as landscaped junctions and decorative concrete are also part of the transformation.
Travellers between Hua Hin and the Springfield Golf Course will already see the ongoing works. Once complete, the highway is expected to slash congestion, reduce accidents, and fuel growth in the region’s thriving tourism and agricultural sectors, reported Hua Hin Today.
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