Thai motorway network

The motorways (Thai: ทางหลวงพิเศษ, RTGS: thang luang phiset) in Thailand is an intercity toll controlled-access highways network that currently spans 145 kilometres (90 mi). It is to be greatly extended to 4,154.7 kilometres (2,581.6 mi) according to the master plan. Thailand's motorway network is considered to be separate from Thailand's expressway network, which is the system of expressways, usually elevated, within Greater Bangkok. Thailand also has a provincial highway network.

Motorway 7 Free Section
Motorway 7 Toll Section
Motorway 9 Toll Section

Thai Motorway Network
(ทางหลวงพิเศษ)
Thai Motorway Shield
System information
Maintained by Department of Highways
Highway names
System links

Overview
Main article: Thai highway network

The Thai highway network spans over 70,000 kilometers across all regions of Thailand. These highways, however, are often dual carriageways with frequent U-turn lanes and intersections, thus slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for limited-access motorways, the Thai Government issued a cabinet resolution in 1997 detailing the motorway construction master plan. Some upgraded sections of highway are being turned into "motorways", while other motorways are being purpose-built.

Routes

Motorway 7
Main article: Motorway 7 (Thailand)

Motorway 7 stretches from Rama IX Road in Bangkok, passes Motorway Route 9 (Kanchanaphisek Road), Suvarnabhumi Airport towards Pattaya, nearly 150 kilometres (93 mi). It exists separately in two sections. The toll section has eight exits, namely Rom Klao, Lat Krabang, Bang Kwai, Bang Bo, Bang Pakong, Phan Thong, Chonburi, and Bang Phra. There is also a rest station and highway police center at kilometre 50. The free section of this route (former highway Route 36) towards Pattaya is completed. There are also highway widening projects aimed at increasing the capacity of this route to eight lanes. Currently, sections of this route from Srinagarindra Road to Chonburi are eight lanes wide.

Motorway 9

Motorway 9 also known as the Outer Ring Road or Kanchanaphisek Road is a limited-access motorway that links the outer fringes of Greater Bangkok. The eastern and southern route is a toll section, which extends from Bang Pa-In through Lam Lukka, Ram Inthra, and meets motorway Route 7 at Thap Chang interchange. The southern section of this motorway was completed in November 2007 which joined Bang Na-Trat Highway (Route 34) and Rama II Highway (Route 35). A project to widen the currently four-lane motorway to eight lanes is in progress. Thailand now has two operational motorways.

The western route is a free section, which extends from RamaII Road (Route 35) at Bang Khun Thien through Bang Khae, Chim Phli, Bang Yai, Bang Bua Thong, Pathum Thani, Sam Khok and meets Phahon Yothin highway (Route 1) at Bang Pa-In1 interchange.

Motorway master plan

The first revision of master plan of Thailand Motorway Network were study in cooperation with JICA in 1991 and finished in 1996 results in 13 Motorway routes with total length of 4,150 kilometers.

With the financial hit in early 2000. Thailand struggle to expand its motorway network as planned. Only Motorway route number 7 and 9 total of 146 km are completed. Due to increasing logistics demand all over the country and huge budget on land expropriation required to build more Motorways. Government had giving priority to upgrade existing Highway network instead to cope with traffic demand.

In 2015, Department of Highways take new study on the new 20 years master plan boosted by the AEC initiatives and comes up with new Thailand Motorway Network Master Plan (2017 - 2036) released in December 2017.[1] This study results in very extensive Motorway network comprise of 21 routes with total of 6,612 km in length. During the study Motorways route 7 also being extended to Pattaya and Map Ta Put which add another 70km and 2 new Motorways (route 6 and route 81) with combined length of 292km are in the process of land expropriation.

Ministry of Transport also recently study on new Motorway-Railway Integrated Network Master Plan or MR-Map in 2021 which take both Motorway Master Plan and SRT Double Track Railway Master Plan in to consideration, aiming to lower budget and reduce impact on land expropriation by combined right of way of both Motorway and Railway where possible.

Motorway 5

Motorway Route 5 designates motorways heading north, which are the equivalent of Highway Route 1. According to the Intercity Motorways Office, Route 5 will stretch 755.6 kilometres (469.5 mi) towards Chiang Rai passing through Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, and Lampang. There are plans to convert sections of an existing highway into this motorway route, but construction plans are still vague.

Motorway 6

Motorway Route 6 designates motorways heading northeast, which is the equivalent of Highway Route 2. This route is supposed to stretch from the Outer Ring Road or motorway Route 9 towards Nong Khai totalling a distance of 535.5 kilometres (332.7 mi). This route is to pass Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani before reaching Nong Khai. Realistically, however, the section between the Outer Ring Road and Nakhon Ratchasima is under construction.[2]

Motorway 7

Motorway Route 7 designates motorways heading east, which is the equivalent of sections of Highway Route 3. This motorway has been recently extended by about 100 kilometres (62 mi) to reach Pattaya and the master plan indicates a desire to extend the route to Chantaburi via Rayong, 291.9 kilometres (181.4 mi) from Bangkok.

Motorway 8

Motorway 8 designates motorways heading south, which is the equivalent of sections of Highway Route 3 and Highway Route 4. The master plan indicates that this route is to be extended from the Outer Ring Road towards Songkhla. It is also the longest route, totalling 951.4 kilometres (591.2 mi). Currently, due to heavy congestion on main highway towards the south, the plan to build a section of this motorway from the Outer Ring Road towards Cha-am in Phetchaburi Province is steadily moving forward.

Motorway 81

Motorway 81 designates motorways heading west, which is the equivalent of sections of Highway Route 4 and Highway Route 323. The master plan indicates that this route is supposed to stretch from the Outer Ring Road towards Kanchanaburi. Totalling a distance 96 kilometres (60 mi) and now under construction.

Motorway 82

Motorway 82 designates motorways heading south west, which is the equivalent of sections of Rama II Route. The master plan indicates that this route is supposed to stretch from the Outer Ring Road and Rama III Road – Dao Khanong – Outer Ring Road (West) Expressway at Bang Khun Thian Intersection towards Pak Tho, Ratchaburi province. Now it is under construction in phase 1 from Bang Khun Thian intersection towards Ban Pheaw.

See also

References
  1. "แผนแม่บทการพัฒนาทางหลวงพิเศษระยะ 20 ปี (พ.ศ. 2560 - 2579)" (PDF). Inter City Motorway Division, Department of Transport. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. Mahitthirook, Amornrat (4 August 2016). "PM kicks off work on new motorway". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
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