Songkhla and Koh Lanta Bridges construction to start Nov 14

MGR Online•Economy•11d ago

Reader Briefing

The Department of Rural Roads is set to issue Notice of Proceed orders for the Songkhla Lake and Koh Lanta bridges on November 14, 2026.

•Construction of the Songkhla Lake bridge and Koh Lanta bridge will start on November 14, 2026.
•The Koh Lanta bridge project has a total budget of 1,849.5 million baht, partially funded by a World Bank loan.
•The Songkhla Lake bridge project has a total budget of 4,829.25 million baht, also partially funded by a World Bank loan.
•Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered the acceleration of procurement for the 2070 budget to stimulate the economy.

Overview

•The Department of Rural Roads is scheduled to issue the Notice of Proceed (NTP) for the Songkhla Lake and Koh Lanta bridge projects on November 14, 2026.
•Construction contracts for both bridge projects were signed on August 31, 2026, and are currently awaiting certification from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
•The Koh Lanta bridge project involves a total budget of 1,849.5 million baht, with 38,899,700 US dollars loaned from the World Bank.
•The Songkhla Lake bridge project involves a total budget of 4,829.25 million baht, with 101,860,300 US dollars loaned from the World Bank.
•Pipat Ratchakitprakarn ordered that procurement for non-binding or single-year projects in the 2070 budget must be completed within one year to stimulate the economy.
•Pipat Ratchakitprakarn expressed a desire to revive the use of rubber for guardrails to prevent accidents and reduce loss of life.
•Pichit Hun Siri reported that for the 2026 fiscal year, the Department of Rural Roads disbursed 48,749.1416 million baht, or 92.04% of its budget.
•Flooding has affected 71 rural road routes across 13 provinces, with 24 routes currently impassable.

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Key Quotes

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn

"The project stalled due to a change in government and currently rubber prices are quite high; I have spoken with rubber cooperatives in 22 provinces, but in my era as Minister of Transport, I want to revive this project to prevent accidents and reduce loss of life."

โครงการหยุดชะงักเพราะมีการเปลี่ยนรัฐบาล และปัจจุบันราคายาพาราค่อนข้างสูง โดยได้พูดคุยกับสหกรณ์ยางพาราทั้ง 22 จังหวัดด้วย แต่ในยุคที่ผมเป็นรมว.คมนาคม ต้องการฟื้นโครงการนี้ เพื่อป้องกันอุบัติเหตุและลดความสูญเสียชีวิต

Key Entities

Person

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport.

Pichit Hun Siri(พิชิต หุ่นศิริ)

Director General of the Department of Rural Roads.

Saksayam Chidchob(ศักดิ์สยาม ชิดชอบ)ℹ️

Former Minister of Transport.

Organization

Department of Rural Roads(กรมทางหลวงชนบท)ℹ️

The government agency responsible for rural road networks and the construction of the Songkhla and Koh Lanta bridges.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Rural Roads.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่าและพันธุ์พืช)ℹ️

The agency providing necessary certification for the bridge construction projects.

World Bank(ธนาคารโลก)ℹ️

The provider of loans for the Koh Lanta and Songkhla Lake bridge projects.

CHEC Construction (M) Sdn Bhd

A Malaysian construction company contracted for the Koh Lanta bridge and a partner in the CMC joint venture.

CMC Joint Venture(กิจการร่วมค้า CMC)

A joint venture consisting of CHEC Construction (M) SDN. BHD. and Chiangrai Land Associates Co., Ltd., contracted for the Songkhla Lake bridge.

Chiangrai Land Associates Co., Ltd.(บริษัท เชียงรายแลนด์ แอสโซซิเอทส์ จำกัด)

A company part of the CMC joint venture for the Songkhla Lake bridge project.

PROBLUE Fund(กองทุน PROBLUE)

The provider of a 4 million USD grant for Irrawaddy dolphin conservation and ecosystem management in Songkhla Lake.

Place

Songkhla(สงขลา)ℹ️

A province where the Songkhla Lake bridge is being constructed.

Phatthalung(พัทลุง)ℹ️

A province where the Songkhla Lake bridge is being constructed.

Krabi(กระบี่)ℹ️

A province where the Koh Lanta bridge is being constructed.

Koh Lanta(เกาะลันตา)

An island in Krabi province being connected by a new bridge.

Songkhla Lake(ทะเลสาบสงขลา)ℹ️

The lake across which a new bridge is being constructed connecting Songkhla and Phatthalung provinces.