Phiphat reveals road and motorway development plans for Southern Thail

Thairath•Politics•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced plans to develop motorways and expand roads from Pran Buri to Songkhla.

•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced road development plans during a Cabinet meeting in Songkhla on September 1, 2026.
•The State Railway of Thailand will finish the design for the Hat Yai to Su-ngai Kolok double-track railway in January.
•The Ministry of Transport opened a 25-kilometer trial section of Motorway M82 from Ekachai to Ban Phaeo on August 28.
•Plans include developing the N8 road (Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am) as a parallel route to Phetkasem Road.

Overview

•On September 1, 2026, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn joined a press conference following an official Cabinet meeting in Songkhla.
•The State Railway of Thailand is expected to complete the design for the double-track railway from Hat Yai, Songkhla to Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat in January, followed by an EIA process.
•On August 28, the Ministry of Transport opened a 25-kilometer trial section of Motorway M82 from Ekachai to Ban Phaeo to facilitate travel to the South.
•The N8 road (Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am) is being developed as a parallel road to Phetkasem Road, passing through Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, Khao Yoi, Kaeng Krachan, and ending at Pran Buri.
•The Ministry of Transport plans to upgrade the motorway from Pran Buri to Songkhla before splitting toward Narathiwat.
•Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated the motorway from Pran Buri to Songkhla would feature motorway lanes on the right for both directions, with the original road expanded by 2 lanes on both left and right.

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Key Entities

Person

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport.

Organization

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for the development of motorways and roads in Southern Thailand.

State Railway of Thailand(การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The organization designing the double-track railway from Hat Yai to Su-ngai Kolok.

Place

Songkhla(สงขลา)ℹ️

The province where the Cabinet meeting was held and the destination of the planned motorway upgrade from Pran Buri.

Narathiwat(นราธิวาส)ℹ️

The province where the Su-ngai Kolok railway terminus and a motorway branch are located.

Pran Buri(ปราณบุรี)

The district where the N8 parallel road ends and the planned motorway to Songkhla begins.

Nakhon Pathom(นครปฐม)ℹ️

The province that the N8 parallel road passes through.

Phetchaburi(เพชรบุรี)ℹ️

The province that the N8 parallel road connects to.

Hat Yai(หาดใหญ่)ℹ️

The district in Songkhla that serves as the start of the double-track railway to Su-ngai Kolok.

Su-ngai Kolok(สุไหงโก-ลก)ℹ️

The district in Narathiwat that serves as the end of the double-track railway from Hat Yai.

Ekachai(เอกชัย)ℹ️

The starting point of the Motorway M82 trial section.

Ban Phaeo(บ้านแพ้ว)

The ending point of the Motorway M82 trial section.

Khao Yoi(เขาย้อย)ℹ️

A location on the parallel road from Nakhon Pathom.

Kaeng Krachan(แก่งกระจาน)

A location on the parallel road leading to Pran Buri.

Cha-am(ชะอำ)ℹ️

A location associated with the N8 road development.