The Dao Khanong outbound toll plaza is set to reopen at 5:00 a.m. on April 5, following weeks of structural reinforcement and safety inspections by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT). The move comes after the fatal beam collapse at the Rama 3-Dao Khanong expressway construction site on March 15, which claimed six lives and left 34 injured.
EXAT has confirmed that eight newly installed support units at the toll plaza have passed rigorous safety checks and are ready for public use. The expressway section in question, part of the Rama 3-Dao Khanong-Outer Ring Road project (Contract 3), runs from Bangpakok 9 International Hospital to the Dao Khanong toll plaza and has now been declared structurally sound.
According to EXAT Governor Surachet Laopoolsuk, the reconstruction involved casting new beams at a dedicated concrete facility using a specialized high-strength cement mix. These new beams are designed to bear twice the weight of the original structures. The beam casting was completed on March 23, just over a week after the accident, and installation followed nine days later.
A multi-agency fact-finding committee has been conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the collapse. The group comprises representatives from eight bodies, including the Ministry of Transport, civil engineering experts, legal advisors, and members of the Engineering Institute of Thailand. Their technical assessment has concluded that while the rebuilt section meets all safety requirements, a full investigation—particularly into witness accounts—is still ongoing.
The final report on the incident is expected by April 2025. Officials emphasize that public safety remains the highest priority as they continue to evaluate every detail of the original construction process.
