Free Motorway M82 Bang Khun Thian-Ban Phaeo Opens August 28

Thansettakij•Economy•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The M82 Motorway from Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo will open for free trial use starting August 28.

•Intercity Motorway M82 (Bang Khun Thian-Ban Phaeo) opens for free trial on August 28 at 10:00.
•The road will be free for approximately 2 years while the Department of Highways finds contractors for the toll system.
•The full operation and toll collection for M82 are targeted for the year 2029.
•The Department of Highways is proposing legal amendments to fund the M8 Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am Motorway via the Thailand Future Fund (TFF).

Overview

•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced the opening of the M82 Motorway Bang Khun Thian-Ban Phaeo section on August 28 at 10:00.
•The M82 section from Ekachai to Ban Phaeo covers 16.4 kilometers, contributing to a total distance of approximately 25 kilometers from Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo.
•The opening is expected to reduce traffic on Rama 2 Road by about 20% and save travel time to Ban Phaeo by at least 40 minutes.
•The M82 project connects to the Rama 3-Dao Kanong expressway, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
•The Department of Highways set speed limits for the trial: 80 km/h for 4-wheel vehicles and 65 km/h for trucks and buses; pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles are prohibited.
•Legal amendments for the M8 Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am Motorway are expected to enter the first reading of the House of Representatives by mid-December.
•The M8 project will be split into two phases, with Phase 1 (Nakhon Pathom-Talat Chinda) funded by the existing Motorway Fund and Phase 2 (Talat Chinda-Pak Tho) using TFF funding.

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Key Quotes

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

"The opening this time is considered the end of the Rama 2 Road legend, which has been under construction for decades, and erases the image of the 'seven generations road' from the people's hearts."

การเปิดใช้งานในครั้งนี้ถือเป็นการปิดตำนานถนนพระราม 2 ที่มีการก่อสร้างยาวนานหลายสิบปี และเป็นการลบภาพจำ ถนน 7 ชั่วโคตร ให้หมดไปจากใจประชาชน

Key Entities

Person

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport.

Piyapong Jiwattanakulphaisan(ปิยพงษ์ จิวัฒนกุลไพศาล)

Director General of the Department of Highways.

Organization

Department of Highways(กรมทางหลวง)

The agency responsible for M82 and M8 motorway construction and management.

The Engineering Institute of Thailand under H.M. the King's Patronage (EIT)(วิศวกรรมสถานแห่งประเทศไทย ในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ (วสท.))

The organization that collaborated with the engineering team to test bridge load capacity.

Thailand Future Fund (TFF)

A fund used as a mechanism for mobilizing capital for infrastructure projects like the M8 motorway.

Place

Intercity Motorway Number 82 (M82)(ทางหลวงพิเศษระหว่างเมือง หมายเลข 82 (M82))

A motorway connecting Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo.

Intercity Motorway Number 8 (M8)(ทางหลวงพิเศษระหว่างเมือง หมายเลข 8 (M8))

A motorway project connecting Nakhon Pathom to Cha-am.

Rama 2 Road(ถนนพระราม 2)

The road where construction has been ongoing for decades and which the M82 is intended to alleviate traffic from.

Rama 3-Dao Kanong Expressway(ทางด่วนสายพระราม 3-ดาวคะนอง)

An expressway expected to be completed in 2026 that connects to M82.

Law

Act on the Determination of Fees for the Use of Vehicles on Highways and Bridges(พ.ร.บ. กำหนดค่าธรรมเนียมการใช้ยานยนตร์บนทางหลวงและสะพาน)

A law being proposed for amendment to allow the use of toll revenue in the Motorway Fund.

Highways Act(พ.ร.บ. ทางหลวง)ℹ️

A law being proposed for amendment to unlock revenue sources for motorway construction.