Plans have been put into motion by the government to build two major bridges in the nation’s southern region with an aim to improve transport connectivity, support tourism and stimulate local economic activity.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday witnessed the signing of construction contracts for the projects in Hat Yai district of Songkhla.
He was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin. Stephen N Ndegwa, incoming World Bank country director for Thailand and Myanmar, also attended.
The Songkhla Lake bridge has been planned to link tambon Koh Yai in Krasae Sin district of Songkhla with tambon Chong Thanon in Khao Chaison district of Phatthalung.
The approximately 7-kilometre link will cost 4.604 billion baht and is expected to shorten the journey between the locations by about 80km, cutting travel time from around two hours to 10 minutes.
The two-lane bridge will have 4-metre-wide traffic lanes and 2.5-metre-wide shoulders on both sides. Its main structure will include a cable-stayed section with a maximum span of 140 metres, while the connecting sections will use prestressed concrete box girders.
The design will incorporate elements inspired by Manora, a traditional southern Thai performing art, to reflect the local identity and encourage tourism.
The Department of Rural Roads and the World Bank have also joined hands to implement protections of the Songkhla Lake ecosystem, conserve Irrawaddy dolphins and restore relevant habitats.
The second project, Koh Lanta bridge, will connect Koh Klang with Koh Lanta Noi in Krabi at a cost of 1.781 billion baht.
The 2.24-kilometre, two-lane bridge will be 13.5 metres wide. Its main section will use a cable-stayed design with a maximum span of 200 metres, while the remaining sections will use prestressed concrete box girders constructed using the balanced cantilever method.
Both projects are scheduled to take 1,080 days with completion expected in 2029. Seventy percent of the 6.385-billion-baht cost for the undertakings is to be financed by World Bank loans, while the remaining 30% will come from the state budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat said the projects would improve people’s quality of life, lay the foundations for sustainable economic growth and strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Mr Anutin on Monday confirmed that the first off-site cabinet meeting of 2026, scheduled for Tuesday in Songkhla, will consider major development initiatives covering social and economic issues as well as disaster preparedness.
He chaired a workshop outlining 96 projects for five southern provinces, worth a combined more than 13 billion baht.
Mr Anutin said the mobile cabinet meeting would consider proposals gathered by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. The aim is to ensure policies reflect the needs of communities in Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.