The first public hearing in relation to a bridge linking Koh Samui to the Surat Thani mainland was held in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, August 8. In total, hearings will be held in 3 areas potentially affected by the project. A second public hearing is being held today in Surat Thani, with a third planned for Koh Samui itself tomorrow.

 

The hearings are being conducted by the Expressway Authority of Thailand in relation to a 34-billion-baht project to build a 20-kilometre bridge between Samui and the mainland. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, according to a Bangkok Post report.

 

EXAT governor Surachet Laophulsuk says the locations for the public hearings were chosen as the bridge will link Samui to either the Don Sak district in Surat Thani, or the Khanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The hearings will discuss the project’s suitability in terms of engineering, financial impact, and environmental impact.

 

By Peter Roche

PHOTO: Facebook/โครงการทางพิเศษเชื่อมเกาะสมุย

 

Full story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/islands/public-hearings-underway-for-koh-samuis-bridge-to-the-mainland/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-08-09

 

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According to my calculator: If 34 billion baht is going to be paid by bridge fees for crossing and paid over 30 years, it's 3.1 million baht per day without including interest, maintenance and service expenses. If the fee for crossing is 500 baht – about same as a normal car on a ferry – more than equivalent to 6,200 normal cars need to cross the bridge in average every day, still not including interest, maintenance and service expenses...

I hope they build it high enough to go over the ensuing boatfulls of cash and dead bodies. 

Well, that will push up land prices for a while - in the areas where the bridge makes landfall.

Then hopefully, it will go the same way as all of the other 'fantastic' projects for Koh Samui. ????

The ski slope

The marina

The second airport

The cruise ship terminal

Edited August 9, 20232 yr by Tropicalevo

If this ever goes ahead, Samui will just turn into another Phuket. The traffic there is horrendous. It's already getting bad here, but with a bridge enabling unlimited visitors, the infrastructure will collapse.

 

Waste mountain, no sewage system, hardly enough water or power as it is.

6 hours ago, phetphet said:

If this ever goes ahead, Samui will just turn into another Phuket. The traffic there is horrendous. It's already getting bad here, but with a bridge enabling unlimited visitors, the infrastructure will collapse.

 

Waste mountain, no sewage system, hardly enough water or power as it is.

Well spoken, a bridge to allow hundreds of vehicles onto a tiny island.

6 hours ago, phetphet said:

If this ever goes ahead, Samui will just turn into another Phuket. The traffic there is horrendous. It's already getting bad here, but with a bridge enabling unlimited visitors, the infrastructure will collapse.

 

Waste mountain, no sewage system, hardly enough water or power as it is.

Yes. Your facts getting in the way of a good cash cow.????????

19 hours ago, webfact said:

the bridge will link Samui to either Surat Thani, or Nakhon Si Thammarat.

to be determined by:

a) Public Hearing

b) Feasibility Study

c) Environmental Impact Study

d) Brown Envelop Size

e) all of the above

One thing for sure someone will become unusually rich as the disbursements vanish ???? 

11 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

One thing for sure someone will become unusually rich as the disbursements vanish ???? 

Nailed it.

isaanpaul

What is the average cost (by KM or mile) of a sea bridge?

The cost of a sea bridge can vary widely based on a range of factors, including the location, length, design, construction methods, environmental considerations, and economic conditions. Therefore, providing a specific average cost per kilometer (KM) or mile for a sea bridge is challenging.

Sea bridges are large-scale infrastructure projects that require extensive engineering, planning, and investment. They can range from relatively short and simple structures to massive and complex projects spanning vast distances. Some sea bridges are designed to withstand challenging environmental conditions, such as high waves, strong currents, and seismic activity, which can impact construction costs.

For reference, some notable sea bridge projects and their approximate costs are:

1. **Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge:** This sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao in China, is one of the world's longest sea-crossing bridges. Its cost was estimated at around $20 billion for a length of approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles).

2. **Oresund Bridge:** Linking Sweden and Denmark, the Oresund Bridge is a combined road and rail bridge-tunnel. The cost of the entire Oresund Link project (including the tunnel and artificial islands) was around $3 billion for a total length of approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles).

3. **Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel:** Located in the United States, this bridge-tunnel complex spans the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. Its original cost was about $200 million for a length of approximately 37 kilometers (23 miles).

It's important to note that these costs are approximate and can vary based on inflation, currency fluctuations, and other factors. Additionally, the costs per kilometer or mile can change significantly depending on the specific circumstances of each project.

For accurate and up-to-date information on the cost of specific sea bridge projects, it's advisable to refer to official sources and reports from relevant government agencies, engineering firms, and construction companies

On 8/9/2023 at 2:48 PM, khunPer said:

According to my calculator: If 34 billion baht is going to be paid by bridge fees for crossing and paid over 30 years, it's 3.1 million baht per day without including interest, maintenance and service expenses. If the fee for crossing is 500 baht – about same as a normal car on a ferry – more than equivalent to 6,200 normal cars need to cross the bridge in average every day, still not including interest, maintenance and service expenses...

If your calculations are right then I don't believe the present ring road around the island could possibly cope.

2 hours ago, cracker1 said:

If your calculations are right then I don't believe the present ring road around the island could possibly cope.

Yes, agree; that was also one of my earlier points, when the idea of a bridge came up...

I wonder if there will be a proper environmental study on the sea life between the mainland and Samui.

To my knowledge, there are dolphins, turtles and coral in the shore area.

Also, don't whales pass through that channel up to the Prachuap Khiri Khan waters?