Thai motorway network
Encyclopedia
Thailand's motorway network is considered to be separate from Thailand's expressway network
Thai expressway system
Thailand's expressway system comprises high-capacity controlled-access highways serving the Greater Bangkok area and some nearby provinces. The system is operated under the oversight of the Expressway Authority of Thailand , and is distinct from the Thai motorway network...
, which is the system of usually elevated expressways within Greater Bangkok. Thailand also has a provincial highway network.
Overview
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 slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for a limited-access motorway, the Thai Government issued a Cabinet resolution in 1997 detailing the motorway construction master plan. Some upgraded sections of highway are being turned into a "motorway", while other motorways are being purpose-built.Motorway route 7
Motorway route 7 or Motorway route 7 stretches all the way from Sri Nakharin Road in BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, passes Motorway route 9 (Kanchanaphisek Road), Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September...
towards Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
nearly 150 kilometers. With separately into 2 sections. The toll section has 8 exit and/or interchange ramps, namely, Rom Klao, Lat Krabang
Lat Krabang
Lat Krabang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, located in the east of the town.Neighboring districts are Bang Bo, Bang Sao Thong and Bang Phli , Prawet, Saphan Sung, Min Buri and Nong Chok and Mueang Chachoengsao .In October 2005 the plan to create the special administrative area Nakhon...
, Bang Kwai, Bang Bo, Bang Pakong
Bang Pakong
Bang Pakong may refer to*Bang Pakong River*Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province*Bang Pakong, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province*HTMS Bang Pakong, a Thai ship...
, Phan Thong, Chonburi
Chonburi (city)
Chonburi is the capital of Chonburi Province in Thailand. It is located about 100km east of Bangkok, on the coast to the Gulf of Thailand. The name means city of water.Chonburi has had town status since 1935.-External links:...
, and Bang Phra. There is also a rest station and highway police center at Km 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 8-lanes. Currently, sections of this route from Sri Nakharin Road to Chonburi
Chonburi (city)
Chonburi is the capital of Chonburi Province in Thailand. It is located about 100km east of Bangkok, on the coast to the Gulf of Thailand. The name means city of water.Chonburi has had town status since 1935.-External links:...
are 8-lanes wide.
Motorway route 9 (Outer Ring Road, Kanchanaphisek)
Motorway route 9 also known as the Outer Ring Road or Kanchanaphisek Road is a limited-access highway or motorway that links the outer fringes of Greater Bangkok. The eastern and southern route is toll section, which extends from Bang Pa-In through Lam Lukka, Ram Inthra, and met 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 4-lane motorway to 8 lanes is in progress. Thailand now has 2 operational motorways.The western route is free section, which extends from RamaII Road (Route 35) at Bang Khun Thien through Bang Khae
Bang Khae
Bang Khae is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Thawi Watthana, Taling Chan, Phasi Charoen, Bang Bon, and Nong Khaem...
, Chim Phli, Bang Yai, Bang Bua Thong, Pathum Thani
Pathum Thani
Pathum Thani is a town in central Thailand, directly north of Bangkok. It is the capital of the Pathum Thani Province, Thailand as well as the Mueang Pathum Thani district. As of 2005, it has a population of 18,320, covering the complete subdistrict Bang Parok....
, Sam Khok and met Phahon Yothin highway (Route 1) at Pratunam Phra-In interchange.
Tolls
All expressways and sections of motorway in Thailand are tolled (Don Muang Tollway) as well as free.Motorway route 5
Motorway route 5 or Motorway route 5 designates the motorways heading North, which is the equivalent of Highway route 1. According to the Intercity Motorways Office, Motorway route 5 will stretch 755.6 kilometers towards Chiang RaiChiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
passing through Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan is a city in Thailand, the name literally means "Heavenly City". The city is the capital of Nakhon Sawan Province, and covers the complete subdistrict Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nakhon Sawan Tok, Nakhon Sawan Ok and Wat Sai, all of Mueang Nakhon Sawan district...
, Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
, Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
, and Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
. Currently, there are plans to convert sections of an existing highway into this motorway route but construction plans are still vague.
Motorway route 6
Motorway route 6 or Motorway route 6 designates the motorways heading Northeast, which is the equivalent of Highway route 2 2. This route is supposed to stretch from the Outer Ring Road or Motorway route 9 towards Nong KhaiNong Khai
Nong Khai is a city in North-East Thailand and is the capital of the Nong Khai Province...
totaling a distance of 535.5 kilometers. This route is to pass Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
and Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen is a city in Isan, Thailand. It is also the capital of Khon Kaen province and the Khon Kaen district.-Geography and demography:Khon Kaen is located in the Khorat Plateau, in the central-northwestern area of Isaan...
before reaching Nong Khai. Realistically, however, the section between the Outer Ring Road and Nakhon Ratchasima seem the likeliest to be built first.
Motorway route 7
Motorway route 7 or Motorway route 7 designates the motorways heading East, which is the equivalent of sections of Highway route 3 3. This motorway has been recently extended by about 100 kilometers to reach Pattaya and the master plan indicates a desire to extend the route all the way to Chantaburi via RayongRayong
Rayong is a city located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand, in the east coast region of Thailand. It is the capital of Rayong Province, and covers the tambon Tha Pradu and Pak Nam and parts of tambon Choeng Noen and Noen Phra, all within Mueang Rayong district...
, or 291.9 kilometers from Bangkok.
Motorway route 8
Motorway route 8 or Motorway route 8 designates the motorways heading South, which is the equivalent of sections of Highway route 3 3 and Highway route 4 4. The master plan indicates that this route is to be extended from the Outer Ring Road towards SongkhlaSongkhla
Songkhla is a city in the Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. As of 2006 it had a population of 75,048...
. It is also the longest route, totaling 951.4 kilometers. 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
Cha Am
Cha Am is a district in the southern part of Phetchaburi province, central Thailand.The district was established in 1897 in the name of Na Yang. In 1914 the center of the district was moved to Ban Nong Chok and changed the name to Nong Chok district...
in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Prachuap Khiri Khan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phetchaburi in the north and Chumphon in the south. To the west it borders Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar....
is steadily heading forward.
See also
- Transport in ThailandTransport in ThailandTransport in Thailand is varied and chaotic, with no one dominant means of transport. Bus transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural areas for short trips, supplanting bicycles. Road transportation is the primary form of freight transport across the...
- Rail transport in ThailandRail transport in ThailandThe railway network of Thailand is currently managed and operated by the State Railway of Thailand .-History:Interest in rail transport in Thailand can be traced to when King Rama IV was given a gift of a model railway from Queen Victoria...
- Economy of ThailandEconomy of ThailandThe economy of Thailand is a newly industrialized economy. It is a heavily export-dependent economy, with exports accounting for more than two thirds of gross domestic product ....