Dept Wants To Build Five Motorways In Thailand

[webfact]

Dept wants to build five motorways

By Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

The Highways Department will propose to the new government the construction of five motorways at a cost of Bt180 billion.

The department's director-general Veera Ruengsooksriwong said yesterday that the new inter-provincial motorways would cover a distance of 700 kilometres.

Initially the target completion date was 2017, but given the heavy investment required, that target has been adjusted to 2021.

According to a study by the department, the investment could be made through three options: public-private partnerships (PPPs), the department's existing fund financed by tolls on Route 7 from Bangkok to Chon Buri and the Eastern Outer Ring Road, or a new infrastructure fund.

Veera said the first of the planned five new motorways would run from Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima via Saraburi, which should be funded on a PPP basis at a cost of Bt60 billion.

The department has studied the pros and cons of the plan before submitting it for the Transport Ministry's consideration and then Cabinet approval. If the project is given the nod, it can be used as the investment model for other routes.

The Bang Pa-in-Ratchasima route is the one most ready for investment in terms of the details of the construction plan, land expropriation, and the environmental impact study.

Veera said that according to the department's preliminary study regarding investment on the first route, the government had three options, investing either 20, 30 or 40 per cent of the cost of construction and land expropriation. The most feasible option is the second one, and granting a 45-year concession to the private operator.

The four other proposed routes are Chon Buri-Pattaya-Map Ta Phut; Bang Yai-Nakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi; Nakhon Pathom-Samut Songkhram-Cha-am; and Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Sawan.

In 1997, the Cabinet approved the department's 20-year master plan to construct 13 inter-provincial highways totalling 4,150 kilometres and with nationwide coverage. However, only two routes were constructed - Bangkok-Chon Buri and the Outer Ring Road.

The department held a public hearing on the inter-provincial highways yesterday and the findings will be used to adjust the project's master plan and development plan.

-- The Nation 2011-08-05

[webfact]

off-topic post and replies to it deleted

[DNPBC0]

Clearly, Thailand has yet to hear about the forthcoming impacts of peak oil production and the rising demand for oil.

[taff33]

Why don't they look at the MAIN road that runs from Bangkok to Chiang Mai / Chiag Rai.OK the Bangkok part of the road is good but when you get off the new 3 - 4 lane road that was built maybe 5 years ago, the rest of the roads can be down to one lane because of the constant deterioration of the roads.I suppose they don't build "good" roads because there is more money to be made by repairing them.

[zakk9]

It's very unfortunate for this country that those who make the decisions would never dream of travelling with a train (or other land based public transport). So, they give priority to new motorways for their chauffeur driven cars, while proper railways would have given fast, comfortable transport for all, also those who don't have access to a car, and at the same time reduce traffic on the roads.

[zakk9]

They don't build good roads in this country because the money that would have paid for that goes into the pockets of CNNB, "Citizens in Need of a New Benz".

Why don't they look at the MAIN road that runs from Bangkok to Chiang Mai / Chiag Rai.OK the Bangkok part of the road is good but when you get off the new 3 - 4 lane road that was built maybe 5 years ago, the rest of the roads can be down to one lane because of the constant deterioration of the roads.I suppose they don't build "good" roads because there is more money to be made by repairing them.

[thaiedward]

It's very unfortunate for this country that those who make the decisions would never dream of travelling with a train (or other land based public transport). So, they give priority to new motorways for their chauffeur driven cars, while proper railways would have given fast, comfortable transport for all, also those who don't have access to a car, and at the same time reduce traffic on the roads.

Exactly so, sir.

I'd settle for a 50 kmh monorail or a 70kmh duorail that ran somewhere close to schedule. ( I rode 'first-class' to CM...deplorable, and I'm not a snob).

What about a moderately speedy (100 kmh) system with club-cars for Hi-So's which might support a tidy schedule while assuaging egos?

Kind regards

[Thai at Heart]

So what happened to the train lines?

[ginjag]

So what happened to the train lines?

Because big money can be put into pockets of hundreds of VIPs in the road building industry, as opposed to rail that is easier to transparent, Heavy goods companies/Tour buses/ high speed VIP escorted convoys/ traffic police blocks/oil companies and the rest of the excuses to build road rather than have this money to subsidize the new rail links in the near future. Thailand will be paying big interest charges to China over years, so put this money up front and get on with twin tracks ASAP.

[Heng]

The real money in motorways is in operating them. It's a better earner (for those in the position to do so), because the revenue is mostly cash (which is why the various auto tag programs are hardly marketed at all) and relatively 'clean,' that is you can skim quite a bit and still keep the roads from falling apart 'that much.'

Cha ching!

[webfact]

Highways Department to Allow Private Sector to Jointly Invest

The Department of Highways revealed that the private sector is investing in the Public Private Partnerships to build five motorways in Thailand.

Highways Department Director-General Veera Ruangsooksriwong said the department plans to invest 180 billion baht in the construction of five motorways in Thailand.

The first route will run from Bang-Pa-In to Saraburi to Nakhon Ratchasima, and is 199 kilometers long.

He said the route will require 60 billion baht to construct, for which the private sector will jointly invest under the Public Private Partnerships or PPP plan.

He said according to the initial plan, the government will invest 20 percent, and the private sector will invest 80 percent.

The second route will run from Chonburi to Pattaya to Mabtapud.

The third route will run from Bang Yai to Baan Pong to Kanjanaburi.

The fourth route will run from Bang Pa In to Nakhorn Sawan, and the last route will run from Nakhon Pathom to Samut Songkhram to Cha Am.

He added that the motorways will have both ground level and above-ground level types.

The ground routes will require 300 to 500 million baht per kilometer to construct, and the above-ground level routes will require 800 million to 1 billion baht per kilometer.

-- Tan Network 2011-08-05

[pacovl46]

how about paying the money they owe that company in germany first?

[Soutpeel]

how about paying the money they owe that company in germany first?

[Thai at Heart]

Well I don't mind either way, as long as these "motorways" don't dissect villages on the way. If they are like the Bangkok Chonburi expressway, fantastic. Put these in, along with the train lines. Finally the country can start to have something akin to proper logistics.

That said, it won't be so good for those who have just invested in PTT pretrol stations that litter these roads.

[englishinsiam]

I'm still amased at the stretch of motorway near the Airport from Chonburi.

Sppe limit of 120KMH and you have those humps for the 10KM or so stretch. I've driven around the world and never seen the like on a motorway before.

[prefabs]

In 1997, they planned 13 routes. Of these, only 2 were built. That is a 6.5-1 failure ratio. Keeping the same ratio, of these 5 new planned roads, none will ever be built

[Thai at Heart]

I'm still amased at the stretch of motorway near the Airport from Chonburi.

Sppe limit of 120KMH and you have those humps for the 10KM or so stretch. I've driven around the world and never seen the like on a motorway before.

Went over one of those humps in the dusk in driving in driving rain in the outside lane, only to be confronted with a car that had stopped over the brow of the hump, without any hazard lights on. Of all the dumbest places to stop I have seen, that really did take the biscuit in nearly 20 years of driving in Thailand.

Startled me just a tad.

[Samuian]

Guess not only the minimal wage is going to be lifted, but the income of some others too and a Chonburi motorway is exacly that what the country urgently needs!

[livingthedream]

In 1997, the Cabinet approved the department's 20-year master plan to construct 13 inter-provincial highways totalling 4,150 kilometres and with nationwide coverage. However, only two routes were constructed - Bangkok-Chon Buri and the Outer Ring Road.

The department held a public hearing on the inter-provincial highways yesterday and the findings will be used to adjust the project's master plan and development plan.

So, nothing north of Korat then.

[KhunBJ]

Sounds good, in most part of our country we are bit behind with this kind of infrastructure compared with China and Malaysia, infrastructure is a good idea and will be essential longer term if living standard are to improve in the North/North East and for that matter in the south too. Hope this work will start soon.

[pedro01]

Very much needed here - the road system could do with a lot of uplifts!

[JurgenG]

I'm still amased at the stretch of motorway near the Airport from Chonburi.

Sppe limit of 120KMH and you have those humps for the 10KM or so stretch. I've driven around the world and never seen the like on a motorway before.

I think those "humps" are quite efficient at limiting the speed, even if I'm not sure if that what they were intented for.

I think if you try to pass them at more than 160 you will take-off, 160 being my limit so far, great fun like being on a roller coaster

[arthurwait]

It's very unfortunate for this country that those who make the decisions would never dream of travelling with a train (or other land based public transport). So, they give priority to new motorways for their chauffeur driven cars, while proper railways would have given fast, comfortable transport for all, also those who don't have access to a car, and at the same time reduce traffic on the roads.

^^^^

This.

[RickBradford]

I'm not sure if that what they were intented for.

They are intended to allow water-borne traffic on the klongs to pass underneath the motorway and so enable communication between communities on different sides of the motorway.

Edited August 5, 2011 by RickBradford

[aussiebebe]

Clearly, Thailand has yet to hear about the forthcoming impacts of peak oil production and the rising demand for oil.

Probably true, but most of the world has yet to hear about developing methods for mass-producing ethanol and diesel using photosynthetic microorganisms. A US company Joule Unlimited received two US patents last month and have, at the very least, the potential to increase their pilot scheme (already functional) into something greater.

[Ricardo]

Why don't they look at the MAIN road that runs from Bangkok to Chiang Mai / Chiag Rai.OK the Bangkok part of the road is good but when you get off the new 3 - 4 lane road that was built maybe 5 years ago, the rest of the roads can be down to one lane because of the constant deterioration of the roads.I suppose they don't build "good" roads because there is more money to be made by repairing them.

The OP says that the fourth route under consideration does run from northern-Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan, which is indeed the main route towards CM/CR, as you suggest.

[ginjag]

Why don't they look at the MAIN road that runs from Bangkok to Chiang Mai / Chiag Rai.OK the Bangkok part of the road is good but when you get off the new 3 - 4 lane road that was built maybe 5 years ago, the rest of the roads can be down to one lane because of the constant deterioration of the roads.I suppose they don't build "good" roads because there is more money to be made by repairing them.

The OP says that the fourth route under consideration does run from northern-Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan, which is indeed the main route towards CM/CR, as you suggest.

Its amazing no poster wants the rail issue brought up==Getting traffic off the roads. 2 Tracks is all thats needed, this money would pay or go forward to pay for much of it

I do get a feeling that roads and rail are not discussed together. Like getting a transport system to work together for the good of all.

NOT for VIP pockets

[mayday49]

Reading in ernest, is there a contest for Village Idiot?

[JurgenG]

Reading in ernest, is there a contest for Village Idiot?

Absolutely !

And I've a great news for you ...

You're the winner !

[Grove]

In 1997, they planned 13 routes. Of these, only 2 were built. That is a 6.5-1 failure ratio. Keeping the same ratio, of these 5 new planned roads, none will ever be built

What happened to the money ?