Thailand’s Expressway Authority is moving forward with two major infrastructure projects designed to ease traffic congestion on two of the country’s most visited islands—Phuket and Koh Samui. The proposed developments, a tollway in Phuket and a bridge to Samui, aim to improve safety and support the long-term viability of the islands as tourist destinations.
Speaking to CU Radio of Chulalongkorn University, Surachet Laopoolsuk, Governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat), said the Phuket tollway project is currently awaiting cabinet approval, which is expected later in 2025 once remaining land disputes with government agencies are resolved. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin soon after, with the expressway projected to open by 2030.
The 35-kilometer Phuket expressway will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will create a safer and more efficient route between Kathu District and Patong Beach, including a tunnel that will bypass hazardous curves and steep terrain on the existing 4029 road. The second phase will extend the tollway from Kathu to Phuket International Airport, aiming to relieve traffic along road 402, a key thoroughfare connecting the provincial capital to the airport.
Surachet emphasized the safety concerns on the current mountain road, particularly its role in frequent accidents. The tunnel construction in the first phase is expected to significantly reduce those risks. Meanwhile, the second phase addresses the issue of peak-hour traffic congestion on the existing highway.
Parallel to the Phuket project, Exat is also planning an elevated bridge connecting the mainland province of Surat Thani to Koh Samui. The 30-kilometer bridge is intended to reduce heavy vehicle traffic and long queues at ferry terminals, enhancing accessibility to the island. The precise starting point on the mainland has not yet been finalized, with Don Sak in Surat Thani and Khanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat both under consideration due to the projected economic benefits.
Pending cabinet approval, construction of the Samui bridge is expected to begin in 2029 and be completed by 2034.
Officials including Exat engineers and provincial planners are involved in the early stages of both projects, which are seen as central to supporting Thailand’s growing tourism industry and reducing transportation bottlenecks on key island routes.
