Toll-free motorway unveiled for Songkran holidays

Motorists are set to enjoy a toll-free journey on the newly announced Intercity Highway Number 81 (M81), disclosed Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachot yesterday. With 97.5% completion, the highway promises to revolutionise travel during the long Songkran break.

Surapong highlighted its pivotal role in easing travel woes for residents of Kanchanaburi and neighbouring provinces.

“The M81 Highway will be a game-changer.”

Scheduled to operate toll-free from April 11 to April 21, this innovation aims to ignite tourism in Thailand’s western region.

Boasting a length of 96 kilometres, the M81 Highway spans from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi to Tha Muang in Kanchanaburi, offering a smooth ride for holidaymakers partaking in Songkran festivities.

As the world’s largest water fight beckons, Surapong unveiled further plans to open the motorway on weekends starting April 26, fostering inter-province travel, reported The Nation.

Anticipated benefits include a 28% reduction in traffic and halved travel time between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi.

In related news, in response to mounting social media uproar over the Rama II highway’s perpetual construction nightmares, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive to the Transport Ministry to solve traffic congestion before the impending Songkran holiday frenzy.

Connecting nearby Hua Hin to the capital, the route is essential for those planning to travel to the seaside resort from Bangkok.

The 62 year old Thai PM’s directive follows a viral travel page post, highlighting the eerie tranquillity of Hua Hin due to Bangkokians dodging Rama II’s notorious gridlocks.

In other news, toll fees along Bangkok’s Chalong Rat and Burapha Withi expressways are seeing a steep increase starting from March 1. The Expressway Authority of Thailand dropped this bombshell earlier this month, announcing a hefty hike in toll charges.

For four-wheel vehicles traversing the Chalong Rat Expressway, be prepared to shell out an extra 5 baht, pushing the toll to 45 baht. Larger vehicles won’t be spared either, with fees for six to 10-wheelers climbing from 60 to 65 baht, and those with more than 10 wheels facing a 10 baht increase, totalling 90 baht.