Highway 7 Extension Toll

[digbeth]

As you may have seen the various construction for toll booths along the Highway 7 (Motorway) extension from Chonburi all the way to the recently completed bits that ended in Sukhumvit road in Pattaya between North and Central road.... The stretch of road is turning into toll road.

When the most recently finished stretch between the International school and Sukhumvit was built, there was a sign (and stil is ) saying that the road is for use toll free temporarily only, and change to toll system is coming later.... well later is this year.

Most of exits from SriRacha to Pattaya has been blocked off at one point in the past year but now reopened with signs saying that the exit was temporary and will be closed once the toll system is in operation in August 2016, so look out for sign with lots of writing in Thai on the exit, if you use those exit regularly, better plan for alternative route.

With the toll... that means another 20-30 baht to get to Pattaya... possible queues during busy times

and no more riding motorcycles on the highway! so from August on(If they can get the toll booths open in time), if you travel on Motorcycles, it's either by Sukhumvit (Highway 3) or 331 to get to Bangkok and beyond (The old Hwy7 Extention only let you ride motorcycles up to Chonburi where you have to take the Chonburi bypass and get on the Highway 3 anyway)

Depending on how good the service road on the side is, you might still be able to ride motorcycles all the way to Chonburi still, but parts of it look under construction still.

For Pattaya residents, I remember there was a furors that from Chaiyapornwithi (Soi Waterworks, Road no 3240) that it was exit from the highway only and residents in those area can't use the highway to get to Pattaya, after much lobbying by local politician, a turnpike was constructed by filling in the drainage canal and small slip road made to merge with the highway.... who knows what the status of the 'entrance' will be after the toll road is in operation, but it looks like it's just after the last toll booths, with the big office building for the highway already constructed there on the exit.

Does anyone else notice how this will affect you?

For me I like to travel to Sriracha once every couple of week to the Japanese mall J-Park and to BangPhra reservoir sometime, and the exit I use is definitely closing, so I would have to exit the Highway 7 somewhere around Laem Chabang probably where the toll booths are being constructed and take the service road alongside all the way to my usual exit.

It's gonna be chaos for sure, but hopefully if they manage to force out local traffic from the motorway, it'll be better for the paying customer.

[OMGImInPattaya]

What's the attraction of the J-Park Mall...Thai pretties in the stores and restos dressed in J-Pop cosplay

I use the highway 7 extension often when I want to get quickly to and from north Pattaya from my abode near Wat Sattuwas. I enter and exit at the newly constructed toll-booth and large building structure a few kilometers from the sukhumvit flyover entrance. I don't really understand where the tolls are going to be collected. There is not toll-booth structure going north from Sukhumvit to the international school. At some point further on, there may be some. Also, there is that tollbooth structure when I enter but it doesn't stretch across the motorway to collect tolls from people entering into Pattaya at Sukhumvit.

[topt]

I have been wondering how this is going to work ever since the toll booths started to take shape especially as some seem missing in certain directions....

There are so many temporary entrances/exits that as the OP says it will cause complete chaos once they are all closed. I use a number of them to go to various golf courses and alternatives will be difficult.

Going via Sriracha I use Suk anyhow so I do not see that as an issue.

[Don Mega]

Is the 36 into Pattaya being blocked forcing people to use this new toll road ?

[smedly]

Time for the government to allow large bikes on Toll roads and highways, I can understand for this rule being applied to small scooters etc, a limit set at 600cc wouldn't be far away - time for change, touring in Thailand could be made so much easier and could open up a whole new tourism sector making all roads available to certain classes of motorbikes

[Don Mega]

Time for the government to allow large bikes on Toll roads and highways, I can understand for this rule being applied to small scooters etc, a limit set at 600cc wouldn't be far away - time for change, touring in Thailand could be made so much easier and could open up a whole new tourism sector making all roads available to certain classes of motorbikes

They fail at policing a set of traffic lights so how would they make that work ?

Edited January 7, 2016 by Don Mega

[digbeth]

Is the 36 into Pattaya being blocked forcing people to use this new toll road ?

No , but the whole highway 7 is, so in order to get to the 36, you have to come down on the 7 and it looks like there will be a toll at Laem Chabang

So the only way to get to Pattaya without paying more tolls is through Highway 3 the Sukumvit road, pass god knows how many traffic lights and rush hours in Chonburi is pretty bad,

Or go down on 331 take a detour to Rayong, that works too

Too bad the Buraphawithi expressway( The one from Bang Na) extention is being blocked by NIMBYS in Chonburi/Sriracha, the eastern seaboard badly need an alternative route, especially with all these Just-In-Time manufacturing practice that results in having loads of trucks on the road between the various Industrial estates, any delays in the road networks just cost money.

[Woody1]

Time for the government to allow large bikes on Toll roads and highways, I can understand for this rule being applied to small scooters etc, a limit set at 600cc wouldn't be far away - time for change, touring in Thailand could be made so much easier and could open up a whole new tourism sector making all roads available to certain classes of motorbikes

They fail at policing a set of traffic lights so how would they make that work ?

I think you'll find that big bikes are allowed to use it.

[digbeth]

With the toll booths going in certain direction only, looks like they are only half completed, and they could detour traffic through the already constructed booths while constructing the remainder of the booths in the middle of the road.

If they do a closed-system where you take a ticket/card and pay by the distance at the exit, most of the exits would have to close.

Previously the 'Motorway' Highway 7 between Bangkok and Chonburi used to be open-system where you pay 30 baht once at the first toll, and another 30 at the last toll, entering and exiting any exits between the tolls is free, only recently did they move to a closed system and install toll booth at all the exits along the way.

Around Laem Chabang where there's a big PTT service stations on both sides and a Homepro any many other shops, if you can't exit there there'll be chaos. But I don't see toll booth before and after there if they're making it a closed-system

[Woody1]

These new toll booths are all being built to coincide with all the new bypasses being constructed and opened.

I for one don't mind paying a small toll towards improving the infrastructure.

[digbeth]

Time for the government to allow large bikes on Toll roads and highways, I can understand for this rule being applied to small scooters etc, a limit set at 600cc wouldn't be far away - time for change, touring in Thailand could be made so much easier and could open up a whole new tourism sector making all roads available to certain classes of motorbikes

They fail at policing a set of traffic lights so how would they make that work ?

I think you'll find that big bikes are allowed to use it.

To the tune of 1,000.- baht per offence, at the moment, how's that for a toll?

All the 'big bikes' vendors need to get together and lobby the government

[TheCruncher]

The strange thing is that if you drive direction Bangkok, then the first toll booth you will encounter is at Laem Chabang.

[digbeth]

The strange thing is that if you drive direction Bangkok, then the first toll booth you will encounter is at Laem Chabang.

I'm sure the one at Chaipornwithi/Soi waterworks that exit to Nong Prue will extend to cover the whole two sides once it's in operation

[TheCruncher]

The strange thing is that if you drive direction Bangkok, then the first toll booth you will encounter is at Laem Chabang.

I'm sure the one at Chaipornwithi/Soi waterworks that exit to Nong Prue will extend to cover the whole two sides once it's in operation

Please explain how a building on the right side of the highway can be extended to the left side of the highway, when there are no toll booths at that side of the road..

Further on, all traffic direction Bangkok that enters highway 7 at the Nong Plalai intersection also doesn't pass any toll booths, and for those Laem Chabang is also the first toll booth to encounter.

[KittenKong]

When I go to Si Racha I always just drive straight up Sukumvit. Never seems to take me very long, not once I'm past Naklua anyway.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Time for the government to allow large bikes on Toll roads and highways, I can understand for this rule being applied to small scooters etc, a limit set at 600cc wouldn't be far away - time for change, touring in Thailand could be made so much easier and could open up a whole new tourism sector making all roads available to certain classes of motorbikes

They fail at policing a set of traffic lights so how would they make that work ?

I think you'll find that big bikes are allowed to use it.

To the tune of 1,000.- baht per offence, at the moment, how's that for a toll?

All the 'big bikes' vendors need to get together and lobby the government

The posted fines for bikes is 5000 baht.

[NightRider70]

The service roads are complete from 36 to Chon Buri so no problem riding a motorcycle. They should allow bigger motorcycles on the toll roads, or even better designate the fastlane for motorcycles. The diesel stinkers should not allowed to leave the slow lane.

Edited January 7, 2016 by NightRider70

[LennyW]

The service roads are complete from 36 to Chon Buri so no problem riding a motorcycle. They should allow bigger motorcycles on the toll roads, or even better designate the fastlane for motorcycles. The diesel stinkers should not allowed to leave the slow lane.

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

[smedly]

The service roads are complete from 36 to Chon Buri so no problem riding a motorcycle. They should allow bigger motorcycles on the toll roads, or even better designate the fastlane for motorcycles. The diesel stinkers should not allowed to leave the slow lane.

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

I'm going to assume you are trying to wind someone up with that statement but either way you are talking nonsense

[LennyW]

The service roads are complete from 36 to Chon Buri so no problem riding a motorcycle. They should allow bigger motorcycles on the toll roads, or even better designate the fastlane for motorcycles. The diesel stinkers should not allowed to leave the slow lane.

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

I'm going to assume you are trying to wind someone up with that statement but either way you are talking nonsense

Hard enough to keep an eye on all the idiots on that motorway without adding motorcycles to the mix. Rightly so no bikes allowed on the motorway. IMO of course!

[Rimmer]

A personal attack and the reply post to it has been removed

[smedly]

The service roads are complete from 36 to Chon Buri so no problem riding a motorcycle. They should allow bigger motorcycles on the toll roads, or even better designate the fastlane for motorcycles. The diesel stinkers should not allowed to leave the slow lane.

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

I'm going to assume you are trying to wind someone up with that statement but either way you are talking nonsense

Hard enough to keep an eye on all the idiots on that motorway without adding motorcycles to the mix. Rightly so no bikes allowed on the motorway. IMO of course!

I use that motorway on a regular basis on a motorbike and have yet to encounter an issue or witness one, in fact it is a much safer route than riding on the 3 , perhaps proper enforcement of traffic law and taking the people who cannot drive off the roads might be a better idea, and I have travelled some 90,000km on Thai roads over the years and the worst driving I have seen is almost always farangs - go figure

The motorways/expressways are the safest roads in Thailand

Edited January 8, 2016 by smedly

[LennyW]

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

I'm going to assume you are trying to wind someone up with that statement but either way you are talking nonsense

Hard enough to keep an eye on all the idiots on that motorway without adding motorcycles to the mix. Rightly so no bikes allowed on the motorway. IMO of course!

I use that motorway on a regular basis on a motorbike and have yet to encounter an issue or witness one, in fact it is a much safer route than riding on the 3 , perhaps proper enforcement of traffic law and taking the people who cannot drive off the roads might be a better idea, and I have travelled some 90,000km on Thai roads over the years and the worst driving I have seen is almost always farangs - go figure

The motorways/expressways are the safest roads in Thailand

Have to agree at the moment it is a safe(ish) road.

Of course i trust you realise that "proper enforcement of traffic law" would also mean removing and penalising any motorbikes and their riders that were illegally using the motorway.

[digbeth]

The strange thing is that if you drive direction Bangkok, then the first toll booth you will encounter is at Laem Chabang.

I'm sure the one at Chaipornwithi/Soi waterworks that exit to Nong Prue will extend to cover the whole two sides once it's in operation

Please explain how a building on the right side of the highway can be extended to the left side of the highway, when there are no toll booths at that side of the road..

Further on, all traffic direction Bangkok that enters highway 7 at the Nong Plalai intersection also doesn't pass any toll booths, and for those Laem Chabang is also the first toll booth to encounter.

The toll booth on the other side of the road will appear through the magic that place them on the right side.... construction

[Briggsy]

Laem Chabang Bypass (the 7 Kms from Motorway/Route 7 to Sukhumvit/Route 3) is largely finished. This will also be a toll and not allow motorbikes.

But for now, it is great if you wish to see how fast your vehicle will go autobahn style.

[digbeth]

Given how car, truck and bus drivers just have no lane discipline and continually erratically cross all four lanes as it suits them.......far better no bikes on the motorway.

I'm going to assume you are trying to wind someone up with that statement but either way you are talking nonsense

Hard enough to keep an eye on all the idiots on that motorway without adding motorcycles to the mix. Rightly so no bikes allowed on the motorway. IMO of course!

I use that motorway on a regular basis on a motorbike and have yet to encounter an issue or witness one, in fact it is a much safer route than riding on the 3 , perhaps proper enforcement of traffic law and taking the people who cannot drive off the roads might be a better idea, and I have travelled some 90,000km on Thai roads over the years and the worst driving I have seen is almost always farangs - go figure

The motorways/expressways are the safest roads in Thailand

The way some idiots (nationalities/race has nothing with this) do weave left and right across all lanes of traffic, this is fact, having high powered motorcycles doing the same at 200+kph on your left where you least expect to encounter them would only lead to trouble

But the Thai traffic law were written when motorcycle are just moped and going over 60 or over bridges/flyover was a struggle, in Bangkok it is illegal for motorcycles to go over most flyover still, a traffic law reform in Thailand is badly needed, but it must come with improved education/testing

[topt]

The strange thing is that if you drive direction Bangkok, then the first toll booth you will encounter is at Laem Chabang.

I'm sure the one at Chaipornwithi/Soi waterworks that exit to Nong Prue will extend to cover the whole two sides once it's in operation

Please explain how a building on the right side of the highway can be extended to the left side of the highway, when there are no toll booths at that side of the road..

Further on, all traffic direction Bangkok that enters highway 7 at the Nong Plalai intersection also doesn't pass any toll booths, and for those Laem Chabang is also the first toll booth to encounter.

This was my point in post #3.

The OP believes they will just build them later which seems ar*e about face but TIT I suppose............

I am curious what the actual amount of toll will be once completed to travel from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi just using Highway 7?

[digbeth]

Looks like where the new control building, a service area and (supposedly) half completed toll gates are, there will be a junction going down all the way to Ban Chang

So as it turns out I could be wrong about the rest of the toll gates being completed at later dates, and the toll gates are only for the new Pattaya-Mabtaphut/Ban Chang route.... but if that's the case they have built it too early as the lands along the route hasn't even been bought/expropriated yet

[longball53098]

Looks like where the new control building, a service area and (supposedly) half completed toll gates are, there will be a junction going down all the way to Ban Chang

So as it turns out I could be wrong about the rest of the toll gates being completed at later dates, and the toll gates are only for the new Pattaya-Mabtaphut/Ban Chang route.... but if that's the case they have built it too early as the lands along the route hasn't even been bought/expropriated yet

Would you care to enlighten me more about the motorway link to Ban Chang? How do you know the land has not been expropriated yet? Care to divulge a source? I seem to recall the highway department was already taking bids for the construction way back early last year. But as always my memory is dim.