Thai government to construct new elevated tollways by 2028
The Thai Transport Ministry unveiled plans to construct two new elevated tollways to improve commuting in the country. These tollways will be built from Pathum Thani to Ayutthaya and from Nonthaburi to western Bangkok, with a combined estimated cost of 87 billion baht.
The announcement was made by the Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who laid out the details of the projects. One of the planned projects is an extension of the Don Mueang tollway, heading north from the Rangsit area in Pathum Thani to the Bang Pa-in district of Ayutthaya. Spanning a length of 22 kilometres, this elevated tollway is projected to cost around 31.28 billion baht.
This project is set to be a public-private partnership, where the private sector will be asked to bid for the construction and operation of the new tollway. The government will then repay this cost in due course.
The second project involves an elevated tollway that will run above the existing western outer ring road of Bangkok. This stretch of road will connect the Bang Khunthian district and the Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi, spanning a distance of 35.85 kilometres. The estimated cost for this project stands at 56.03 billion baht, reported Bangkok Post.
According to Suriya, these two new elevated tollways are expected to be operational by 2028. This move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the country’s infrastructure, making commuting more seamless and efficient for residents and visitors alike. The new elevated tollways will not only relieve congestion but also improve the connectivity between key districts.
The Ministry of Transport has taken the initiative by approving investments in five road construction projects totalling around 234 billion baht, aiming to enhance convenience for car owners in Thailand.
The ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Highways (DH), Department of Rural Roads (DRR), and Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to supervise the initial set of five out of the total 19 planned road construction projects. Read more HERE.
