Project Background



Phuket has long been battling with the traffic congestion, esp. on Thep Krasattri Road, which is the only main route connecting Phuket International Airport and its northern areas with Phuket town, including tourist attractions. Owing to the limitations of its capacity and characteristics, plus an absence of the access control system, the existing highway cannot accommodate the traffic volume required effectively, esp. during morning and evening rush hours. In addition, travelling between Kathu and Patong needs to rely solely on Phra Baramee Road, the only major road linking between the two, on which traffic is also heavily congested. To make it worse, because of its steep-slope and twisty characteristics, accidents are often experienced. Without a prompt action taken, traveling can be slow, causing adverse impacts on local people and tourists, which will affect economic and social sectors in Phuket and, finally, the whole country, in the long run.

Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has initiated Phuket Expressway Project out of an intention to improve road transport infrastructures, alleviate traffic congestion and provide motorists with the facility that enables a faster-speed travel. The project is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 covers the distance of 3.98 km. and phase 2, 30.62 km.; making the total of 34.60 km. for the entire project.

Phase 1 of the project, Kathu Patong Section, has been implemented up to the public-private partnership (PPP) stage, which is in compliance with the Public Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019). Anyway, during the tender submission period, it turned out that no private entity had showed up. And because changes made to the Request for Proposal (RFP) will affect the project PPP principles previously approved by the cabinet, the EXAT will, therefore, have it reviewed and proposed to the authorized person again for final approval. As for phase 2, Muang Mai Kho Kaew Kathu Section, the engineering, economic, financial and environmental impact feasibility study has been carried out, whereas the survey and definitive design have also been completed. The EXAT then conducted the study on project implementation approaches and proposed that phase 1, Kathu Patong Section, be implemented first, in parallel with the study on the investment schemes of phase 2, Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section, civil works and the operation and maintenance of the 2 phases. These have been proposed to the EXATs committee in the meeting no. 11/2566, dated November 23, 2023 and to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) on February 23, 2024, to request approval for the change of the phase 1, Kathu Patong Section, investment scheme.

An investment on the project phase 2, Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section, construction, including the operation and maintenance of the 2 phases, need to be reviewed for its feasibility study. And because the project incurs a large-scale investment, having the public-private partnership scheme applied is, therefore, one of the project implementation alternatives.

Accordingly, the EXAT has appointed a group of consultants to conduct a review on the project feasibility study and prepare the project research and analysis report, in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), for Phuket Expressway Project - Phase 1: Kathu Paong Section and Phase 2: Muang Mai Kho Kaew Kathu Section, (for 10 months duration, from June 28, 2024 to April 23, 2025). The project will serve as one of the transport facility alternatives that help relieve the traffic congestion on Thep Krasattri (Highway 402) and Phra Baramee Roads (Highway 4029) while improving the transport efficiency and solving the traffic problems in Phuket as a whole, allowing motorists to travel safely and more conveniently.

Objectives of the Study

The review of the feasibility study and the preparation of the project research and analysis report for Phuket Expressway Project Phase 1: Kathu Patong Section and Phase 2: Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section, in compliance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), have the following objectives:

1. To conduct the detailed study, analysis and review on engineering, economic and financial feasibility of the Phuket Expressway Project Phase 1: Kathu Patong Section and Phase 2: Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section;

2. to conduct a feasibility study on the project public-private partnership application, in compliance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), arrange a market sounding and prepare the project research and analysis report as prescribed in Section 22 of the afore-mentioned Act; and

3. to prepare outlines of the RFP, project scope, essential terms and conditions, including draft PPP contract.

Project Alignment

Scope of Consulting Services

Part 1 :

Conduct the detailed study, analysis and review on engineering, economic and financial feasibility of the Phuket Expressway Project Phase 1: Kathu Patong Section and Phase 2: Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section.

Part 2 :

Conduct a feasibility study on the project public-private partnership application, in compliance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), arrange a market sounding and prepare the project research and analysis report as prescribed in Section 22 of the afore-mentioned Act.

Part 3 :

Prepare outlines of the RFP, project scope, essential terms and conditions, including draft PPP contract.

Project Design

Phase 1: Kathu Patong Section

A Connection to Kathu Patong Expressway Project

The alignment is directly connected to Kathu Patong Expressway Project, being elevated over Highway 4029, before entering the toll gate of the Kathu Patong Expressway Project.

A Connection to Kathu Patong Expressway Project

Kathu Patong Section



The project is equipped with full control of access, having fences installed while only specific entrances/exits are allowed into and out of the project main road, which is designed as a 4-lane expressway. The Kathu Patong Section is a 4-lane elevated road, 2 of which are 1.75-meter wide and reserved for motorcycles whereas the 3.5-meter wide are for cars. The inner and outer paved shoulders are 0.5 and 2.0 meters respectively. The alignment passes over Pisit Khoranee Road and continues until it meets Khao Nak Kerd, after when the 4-lane twin tunnels will be present, 2 of which are also reserved for motorcycles. The alignment after this road section is elevated and finally connects to Highway 4029.

Design of the Elevated Road for Kathu Patong Section

Design of the Twin Tunnels for Kathu Patong Section

Design of the At-Grade Road for Muang Mai Kho Kaew Section

Design of the Elevated Road for Kathu Section

Design of the Tunnels for Muang Mai Kathu Section

Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section

The Muang Mai Koh Kaew Section is designed as a 4-lane expressway, each of which is 3.50-meter wide, with a median of 16.20-meter width, to provide for future road expansion. The inner and outer paved shoulders are 1.50- and 2.50-meter wide respectively. The bridges and elevated roads under the project are designed in a way that their vertical clearances, or the gaps between existing road surfaces and bottoms of the bridge structures, are reserved for 2 types of vehicles, i.e. 3.50 meters for normal cars and 5.50 meters for large-sized trucks.



Bridges under the project are normally designed to contain the lane widths equal to those of at-grade roads, in the form of 2 separate one-way bridges. The total width in each direction is 12.00 meters, with the 16.20-meter-wide median provided for future road expansion. And since the expressway is equipped with full control of access, it is necessary that 2-way traffic lanes be provided for the service road in each traffic direction, to allow local people to travel smoothly, without being obstructed by the expressway.

Since the alignment connecting to Kathu Patong Expressway needs to pass the steep-slope areas of the Kamala Hill, the design of the at-grade road will cause substantial impact to environment since it involves a great deal of excavation and embankment works. Twin tunnels, therefore, seem to be the best solution for the purpose. Each tunnel contains two 3.50-meter lanes, with the inner and outer paved shoulders being 0.50 and 1.50 meters respectively. The gap between the 2 tunnels is 14.2 meters. The elevated road in Kathu will be designed as a 4-lane expressway, and in order to minimize construction areas, the width of the bridge in both directions will be reduced to 21.60 meters, with some sections being elevated on existing roads.

Implementation Plan of Phuket Expressway Project

The review of the feasibility study and the preparation of the project research and analysis report for Phuket Expressway Project Phase 1: Kathu Patong Section and Phase 2: Muang Mai Koh Kaew Kathu Section, in compliance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), takes 300 days duration, starting from June 28, 2024. It is expected that the construction of phase 1 will commence in 2026 and phase 2, in 2027, while both phases will be ready for operation by 2030.