Supporting documents

Department of Rural (DRR) is about to kick off Songkhla Lake Bridge and Lanta Island Bridge Projects

On 11 August 2022, Department of Rural (DRR) revealed that the budget of the Songkhla Lake Bridge Project has been endorsed by Committee on Budget Administration to build a new bridge across Songkhla Lake, Songkhla province, Phatthalung province, and Lanta island bridge project, Krabi province. They are expected to begin in 2023.

DRR reported that the Songkhla Lake Bridge project will be built across the Songkhla Lake at Koh Yai subdistrict, Krasae Sin district, Songkhla province – Chong Thanon subdistrict, Khao Chaison district, Phatthalung province and Lanta island bridge project, Koh Klang subdistrict – Koh Lanta Noi, Koh Lanta district, Krabi province. The two bridges will be a new landmark in the future and they will boost tourism and transportation according to the policy of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Saksayam Chidchob.

The Songkhla Lake Bridge project, linking Koh Yai subdistrict, Krasae Sin district of Songkhla and Chong Thanon subdistrict, Khao Chaison district of Phatthalung will connect be essential for completing transportation links between Songkhla district and Phatthalung district which reduce travel time about 2 hours or 80 kilometres. Moreover, the design of the bridge had now been completed. Also, the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been endorsed by a committee from National Environment Board on 3 August 2022, part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, pending final approval from the cabinet. DRR has submitted a proposal and it will now be put forward requesting 4,829.25 million baht the work from the 2023 budget and external loan in 3 years of the construction (2023 – 2025). The 2023 budget has been endorsed by Committee on Budget Administration and the construction is expected to begin around the end of 2023 and be completed in 2025. It will be open in 2026. The bridge, which has a total length of 7 kilometres, with 2 traffic lanes (it would be expanded to 4 traffic lanes in the future), it would be an extradosed structure and combining elements of a prestressed box segmental bridge. It will be decorated by local art decorations.

Lanta island bridge project, linking Koh Klang subdistrict - Koh Lanta Noi, Koh Lanta district of Krabi. DRR confirmed that the design of the bridge had now been completed. Also, the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been endorsed by a committee from Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning on 4 March 2022. The complete proposal is pending final approval from National Environment Board and the cabinet by October 2022. The bridge, which has a total length of 1,825 kilometers, with 2 traffic lanes (the width of lane is 3.75 meters and the width of sidewalk is 2.5 kilometers). It is connected to the roads of both sides, which has a length of 415 kilometers. The total length of the project is 2,240 meters. It would be an extradosed structure and combining elements of a balanced cantilever bridge. When it is complete, it would save travel time from 2 hours down to 2 minutes and it would transfer a patient to a hospital in Krabi faster. Furthermore, it would evacuate victims from a disaster area quickly. DRR has submitted a proposal and it will now be put forward requesting 1,849.50 million baht the work from the 2023 budget and external loan in 3 years of the construction (2023 – 2025).

Therefore, the 2023 budget has been endorsed by Committee on Budget Administration. It is expected that the project will start construction around the end of 2023 and will be completed and ready for service by 2026.

In addition, Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), DRR and World Bank had a meeting to prepare the implementation plan of Environmental and Social Framework on 15 August 2022.

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DRR listened for facts and opinions from local people of Chong Thanon subdistrict, Khao Chaison district, Phatthalung province

On 9 September 2022, department of Rural Roads (DRR) led representatives from the Bureau of Budget and World Bank. The representatives listened for facts and the opinions of the locals that related to Songkhla Lake bridge project at Chong Thanon municipality of Phatthalung.

The discussion was about environmental impact, infrastructure including electricity, water supply, education, tourism and etc. The project would start the construction in 2023. It would reduce time travel from 2 hours to 15 minutes. Furthermore, it would provide emergency evacuation route in case of disaster events. It would support and facilitate commerce, industry, hospitality and tourism according to the policy of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Saksayam Chidchob.

After that, DRR representatives surveyed from the starting point through the end of construction of the project. They also visited the area around the Ranot Watergate to see the drainage system in the agricultural areas of the upper Songkhla Lake. Then DRR led the representatives to visit Songkhla deep sea port which the bridge would across Songkhla Lake in the future. It would be a transport route from Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand. In particular, it would reduce transportation costs.

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