Phuket faces severe traffic congestion as an 83 billion baht mega-project is delayed and cannot keep up with the city's expansion.
Source: Thansettakij
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 05:16
Phuket is a world-class tourist destination. Before COVID-19, the island welcomed 14.5 million international tourists, generating 422 billion baht in revenue, ranking second only to Bangkok. The province's GDP stood at 251 billion baht. It is expected that this year, Phukets tourism revenue will return to pre-COVID levels.
However, today, Phuket is dealing with severe traffic, particularly on Highway 402, which serves as the main entry point into the province. The city's expansion, driven by real estate investments catering to tourists and the increasing demand for tourism, has further strained its infrastructure.
Despite plans by the government and the Ministry of Transport to develop road and rail networks in Phuket, with investments totaling more than 83 billion baht across seven projects to boost tourism, progress has been significantly delayed, unable to keep up with the city's rapid expansion.
One project showing some signs of progress is the "New Road Construction Project" connecting Ban Muang Mai to Phuket Airport, with a four-lane road and an overpass linking tourist attractions over a distance of 1.95 kilometers. The construction budget is around 1.3 billion baht, with work expected to begin in November and completion by 2027.
Another is the "Thap Lamu Underpass Project" at the intersection of Highway 402 and Highway 4027 (Thap Lamu intersection), with a budget of 2.38 billion baht. The local authorities are rushing to relocate utilities, such as electricity and water, to clear the way for construction, while also expanding the shoulders of the roads parallel to where the Department of Highways is tendering for contractors.
Other projects will take much longer. The formation of a new cabinet is likely to cause further delays, including for the "Phuket Expressway Project." In Phase 1, Katun-Patong, the Expressway Authority had previously opened bidding for private investment, but no interest was received. As a result, the authority is revising the plan, with it now funding civil engineering work itself.
The New Town-Koh Kaew-Katun-Patong Expressway project is also undergoing a redesign of its tunnel. Currently, the project is in the land acquisition phase. Initially, the plan was to seek cabinet approval in December 2025, sign contracts in 2026, and open the expressway in 2030. Phase 2, New Town-Koh Kaew-Katun, is undergoing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) review, with contracts expected to be signed by the end of 2026 and service beginning in 2030.
Meanwhile, the "Phuket Tram Project," a public-private partnership (PPP), has seen continuous revisions. Although the cabinet first approved the project's feasibility study back in 2012, changes in government leadership have led to numerous shifts, including converting the tram to rubber-tired trams and then to electric buses. The latest transport minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit from the Pheu Thai Party, ordered a study comparing various tram systems, further delaying the project. Construction was initially expected to start in 2027, but whether that timeline will hold remains uncertain.
Additionally, there is the new Sarasin Bridge project. The Ministry of Transport has tasked the Department of Highways with designing a new bridge to support transportation and tourism. The increasing number of large tourist ships in Phuket requires them to pass under Sarasin Bridge, which connects Phang Nga and Phuket. However, large vessels cannot pass under the current bridge, forcing them to take longer routes. The new bridge, which will be designed to accommodate these large vessels, is still in the planning and budget approval stages.
Source: Daily News (Dailynews Newspaper, July 4, 2025 afternoon edition)
Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025, 04:43 PM
Summary: For 8 years, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has been continuously studying electric train projects in 4 provinces, but the government and Ministry of Transport have not pushed them forward.
"Daily News Transport Innovation News Team" reported on the status of mass transit projects in 4 provinces by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA): Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phitsanulok. These projects have been promoted since the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) era in 2017 and have completed their studies. Construction was planned from 2020-2022, but has been postponed multiple times. Actual construction depends on the policies of the government and the Ministry of Transport, which have not yet seriously pushed these projects. However, the projects are proceeding with studies, including:
1. Phuket Mass Transit Project, Phase 1 (Phuket Airport - Ha Yaek Chalong section), length 41.7 km.
* Construction is awaiting the completion of the Department of Highways' (DoH) expansion project for Highway No. 402 and 4027, as per the policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit. This is to provide an alternative route during the electric train construction, as simultaneous construction of both the road and the electric train would exacerbate traffic problems, especially on Highway 402, affecting public travel.
* Construction is expected to begin in 2028.
* The format will be a light rail (tram) with steel wheels.
* The original plan announced by MRTA for the Phuket tram, intended to be the first electric train line outside Bangkok, was to start construction in 2020 and be completed in 2024.
2. Chiang Mai Mass Transit Project, Red Line (Nakornping Hospital - Mae Hia Saman Samakkee Intersection section), length 15.7 km.
* MRTA is currently preparing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for hiring consultants to conduct a feasibility study and detailed design for the project (new study). This is in accordance with the latest resolution of the Land Traffic Management Commission (LTMC), which requested MRTA to provide additional detailed information to connect to important tourist attractions.
* This will increase the length by 5 km and add 3 stations (from the original 16 stations) before submitting the project for approval.
* Both the Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima projects (below) are expected to complete their studies in 2026, leading to project approval and bidding processes.
* Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028 and take 2-3 years, but Chiang Mai will take longer due to some underground sections.
* The electric train format for Chiang Mai will be a steel-wheeled tram.
* The original plan for these two projects was to start construction in 2022 and open for service in 2027.
3. Nakhon Ratchasima Mass Transit Project, Green Line (Save One Market - Ban Naree Sawat Protection and Career Development Center section), length 11.15 km.
* MRTA is currently preparing the TOR for hiring consultants to conduct a feasibility study and detailed design for the project (new study), as per the LTMC resolution.
* The route has been changed from the Green Line to the Orange Line, running from Theprat Hospital to Jor Hor Joint Station, with a length of 18.9 km. This change is based on proposals from the public, private sector, and relevant agencies in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. This route passes through densely populated community areas, educational institutions, hospitals, and department stores with heavy traffic, which will better help reduce urban traffic problems.
* Both the Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima projects (above) are expected to complete their studies in 2026, leading to project approval and bidding processes.
* Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028 and take 2-3 years.
* The original plan for these two projects was to start construction in 2022 and open for service in 2027.
4. Phitsanulok Mass Transit Project, Red Line (Phitsanulok University - Central Plaza section), length 12.6 km.
* MRTA is currently conducting a feasibility study, expected to be completed in 2026.
* This is being done in conjunction with monitoring information on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai High-Speed Rail Project, Phase 1 (Bangkok-Phitsanulok), as passenger volume depends on the opening of the high-speed rail station in Phitsanulok.
* The electric train format will be a rubber-wheeled tram.
* There are no current construction plans. The original plan was to start construction in 2023 and open for service in 2026.
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