MOTORWAY BIDS TO OPEN NEXT MONTH

Bidding for the construction of the Pattaya-Map Ta Phut motorway will open next month, according to the the Department of Highways.

Department chief Chusak Gaywee said environmental studies and the design of the 32km route, costing 14 billion baht, have been completed.

“The royal decree on the land expropriation has already been enacted, while the project also passed an environmental impact assessment,” Mr Chusak said.

The project will be financed by the motorway fund, which means the process can begin immediately, he said. The fund earns revenue through toll fees.

The route will start from the Pattaya-Rayong intersection on Highway 36, passing through Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district before ending on Highway 3 or Sukhumvit Road in tambon Ban Chang of Rayong.

Mr Chusak said two other motorways required further details and investment plans to be forwarded to the Transport Ministry. They are the 196km Bang Pa-in-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima motorway, costing 84.6 billion baht, and the 96km Bang Yai-Ban Pong-Kanchanaburi motorway, estimated to cost 55.6 billion baht.

Speaking about the investment plans for those routes, Mr Chusak said if the public debt did not exceed the legal limit, the Finance Ministry would be asked to seek a domestic loan for the department to proceed.

If the debt hits the legal limit, private firms will be sought to finance the projects and their investments would be repaid with interest.

“The two motorway projects awaiting the cabinet approval are ready in terms of design details and the royal decree on the land expropriation,” Mr Chusak said, adding that they had passed environmental assessments.