Phuket plans toll-free tunnel project: focus on traffic safety!

Phuket plans toll-free tunnel project: focus on traffic safety!

There is exciting news in Phuket: the controversial Patong Tunnel project has finally received approval. As the Thaiger platform reports, a total of 11 billion baht is earmarked for implementation. This massive infrastructure expansion aims not only to ease traffic flow in Patong, but also to improve safety for residents and tourists.

The Ministry of Transport, led by Minister Pipat, has announced that residents should benefit from a safer road - without additional tolls. The decision was made to transfer the project to the Department of Highways (DLT), resulting in the elimination of toll charges for the tunnel section. This will significantly reduce costs for the population, as evidenced by Nation Thailand's information.

Project overview and financing

The project includes a 900-meter-long elevated road, a 1.85-kilometer-long tunnel and 1.23 kilometers of additional elevated roadway - all with four lanes in both directions. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) will now have direct control over construction, marking a shift from the original privately funded approach to a design & build approach. The project was originally approved in January 2022, but no private investor was found, which led to delays.

Financing is secured through loans or bonds, supported by the Ministry of Finance. Initial progress is already visible; the land expropriations have been completed and the Patong Municipality is preparing the building sites. EXAT plans to announce the necessary tender documents, but a specific start date for construction is still pending.

Planned improvements for tourists and security

The safety of tourists in Phuket is also a top priority. The president of the Phuket Tourist Association, Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, expressed concerns about safety on beaches. There have already been nine drowning cases in 2025, including five foreigners. Therefore, the demand for better safety infrastructure and more lifeguards on beaches is becoming louder. Another concern is the infrastructure around the roads, which is often flooded by heavy rains, paralyzing traffic - an intolerable situation for a tourism hotspot like Phuket.

However, tourist numbers show that Phuket is still a popular destination. With 10,000 foreign travelers arriving every day, despite the low season, and forecasts of 400 billion baht in revenue for 2025, the pressure on the government to improve infrastructure is greater than ever.

If everything goes according to plan, the project is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by November 2025, with the aim of starting construction work as soon as possible. But there are also concerns: If the project is transferred to the DLT, there could be a delay of around 1.5 to 2 years as the required budget allocation needs to be secured.

Overall, this construction project is crucial not only to improving Phuket's infrastructure, but also to ensuring a positive and safe holiday experience for all visitors as the city prepares for the future.

For more information on this topic, please visit the articles on Nation of Thailand, The Thaiger and Bangkok Post.