As the sun sets over the bustling Chalong Rat expressway toll plaza, the heart of Bangkok’s thriving transportation, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) gears up for a major proposal. Exat, a beacon of Thailand’s infrastructural growth, plans to table four distinct expressway projects worth a staggering 8 billion baht to the cabinet by the year’s close. This piece of news was made official by the Authority’s governor, Surachet Laophulsuk.
According to the governor, Exat is diligently working on a total of 14 project proposals set to be presented to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit within the month. Four of these well-thought-out projects are fully prepared for immediate bids and construction, aiming for the groundwork to commence within a year. These projects combined come with a projected budget reaching an impressive 89.7 billion baht and are all planned to be proposed to the cabinet within a swift three-month window.
The first of these projects concerns the Chalong Rat Expressway. This expansive project is set to extend this bustling expressway straight up to the Chatuchote-Bangkok Outer Ring Road. Expected to stretch for a lengthy 19.25 kilometres, this project will necessitate a budget of 24 billion baht. Having already gained the seal of approval from the previous cabinet in March for the construction of the Chatuchote-Lam Luk Ka section, Exat is presently in the thick of drafting essential terms of reference for eager contractors. The completion of this strategically planned project awaits the promised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Lam Luk Ka-Bangkok Outer Ring Road section.
The second project is a strategic part of the northern expressway network, linking Prasert-Manukitch Road with the Bangkok Eastern Outer Ring Road. This project, consisting of a route spanning 11.3km, comes in at a budget of 16.9 billion baht. Then, we have phase one of the breath-taking Phuket expressway stretching from Kathu-Pa Tong. For this project, covering a stretch of 3.98km, Exat is investing 14.6 billion baht, with the Authority currently working on land expropriation and refining procedures.
The final proposal is quite the spectacle, the double-deck Ngam Wong Wan-Rama IX expressway. Destined to tower above the Sirat Expressway, this project will provide an additional 20km stretch with a budget hitting 32 billion baht. Exemplifying a commitment to environmental responsibility, Exat is scheduling the submission of its comprehensive EIA report to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning.
But Exat doesn’t plan on sticking with only these four projects. They’re already formulating plans for 13 more expressway projects. Nine of these will cater to Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, while the rest will benefit landing spots like Phuket, Surat Thani, and Trat. These ambitious plans stand as testament to Exat’s commitment to infrastructural progress, marking a new era of transportation within Thailand.
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