Can they finish the Rama 2 expressway first please, and stop the accidents and deaths?

Not that is seems to matter sometimes in Thailand but all this talk of it being good for the island - increases in toursim etc. - let's not forget that most of the island is a National Park.

 

The protections that should afford have already been abused. If this bridge goes ahead, the pressure to increase development will be huge.

On 4/8/2025 at 2:56 PM, MangoKorat said:

Yes, I use that section regularly when I'm in country - can I ask you what you think about it being built with just 2 lanes on each side?  I think that they have made a mistake doing that - its already difficult to overtake when its busy - much will depend on what the toll charges are when they introduce them.

 

Another problem that will crop up when the cameras are installed, is the speed limit.  On much of the old road (Highway 2), the limit is 120kph - the M6 limit is 80kph (50mph).  If the cameras work that will put many off using the road - 50mph is way too slow for a motorway.

There were hardly any cars/vehicles on the M6 when we went down it and back up after a recent trip to Bangkok.

Sat on 140kph comfortably.....different story once cameras are installed obviously..

On 4/9/2025 at 10:55 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Easy to avoid - go elsewhere !! 
 

And that’s kind of the point - The area wants to increase its tourism revenue by attracting more tourist, whether we like it or not.

 

 

 

There are ‘other islands’ that are under developed - those who prefer such ‘vibes’ will naturally move ‘further’ as that access improves…

 

i.e. koh Kood etc…better access to Koh Chang means better access to further islands. 
 

As pointed out - nothing is likely to be improved in the next 20 years, the Koh Chang bridge has already been a discussion for over a decade…

 

But the island is already undergoing development & the ‘over development’ is already in progress, albeit slowly… that can’t be stopped, but it can be managed.

Improving all infrastructure could see improved panned development down the line, rather than haphazard growth, congestion etc….  

… careful planning & development is better than letting this take place naturally - which is where all the problems start (have started).

 

(I’ve had 2 hrs waits for the ferry on both sides, I’ve also often been luck with a 20min waits) - I’m sure the long ferry queues will be in the news in the next few weeks…

 

 

So a couple big weekends that are crowded everywhere here!  You repeated that! Yes there may be some extra lines for Songkran ( and quite frankly prob not so much for koh chang ferry) that ferry leaves very regularly and is so cheap and easy to bring your car!  No bridge will be or should be built. You are way off and constantly comparing one or two irrelevant weekends of the year where it's busier. If most people here remember before Covid sooo many places like koh chang were pretty quiet even during high season.  I was there 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. It's  quiet.  The ferry takes cars! There will be a bridge to koh samet before koh chang.  

BTW I've had less than 10 min waits 3x! 

Basically, one has to question the sanity of the Thai authorities

On 4/6/2025 at 5:17 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Its a smart move and a natural process in the development of a country / area.

 

This effectively knocks an hour or more off the Journey from Bangkok to Koh Chang.

 

Turning what can be 6 hour car journey unto a 4.5 hour car journey.

 

The wait for the ferry at key periods - longs weekends etc is a key decision making factor for us (our family) in going to Koh Chang or not, we don't want to wait 1-2 hrs for the ferry - as it adds too much to the journey. 

 

I'm sure many others are making similar decisions - from an economics point of view this infrastructure development potentially provides a massive longe term economic boost the local economy of Koh Chang - although, there needs to be improvement in local infrastructure if the Island is to welcome more traffic as an express way onto 'narrow single lane roads' is going to cause gridlock on the Island, this the main road infrastructure also needs major development.

 

 

"Bye bye Koh-Chang" as one poster put it - This certainly would change the character of the island, but, not everywhere can remain the same, development and growth is natural everywhere as the world gets smaller...

 

... and, as the world gets smaller it opens up greater access to further Islands such as Koh Kood and Koh Mak etc... which again, some people won't like... 

 

... then again, we'll always have the people who comment "Pattaya was a nice fishing village 50 years ago"..... or "Phi Phi was once a paradise until mass tourism"...   Their comments won't matter in the slightest in 30 years time...  everywhere grows and develops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You'll still have to pay to cross th bridge – I'm sure there'll be queues too – but how they think the roads on KC will cope is something else.

the boat mafia families will not be happy about this news. 

 

it will be a 15 yr completion. they cant even do road works on the rayong hwy. takes 5 yrs still going on.