PRESS RELEASE:
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has resumed public hearings for the proposed sea bridge connecting Koh Samui to the mainland. The second phase of these consultations began on Monday, following the initial round that selected the potential entry-exit points on the Thai mainland and the island.
The toll bridge is set to have two entrances and exits on the mainland – one in Don Sak district, Surat Thani, and the other in Khanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The total distance of the combined bridge and access roads in these two districts would be 37 kilometers, with the bridge itself extending for 25 kilometers over the Gulf of Thailand.
The selected location was chosen from among seven proposed options during the first round of hearings. The second series of public consultations is scheduled to take place on Koh Samui today (July 15), moving to Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday and Surat Thani on Wednesday, with the bridge’s proposed location being the main topic of discussion.
EXAT, the agency responsible for the project, requires three rounds of public meetings. The final hearings are set to conclude in October next year. The construction of the bridge is now expected to begin in 2029, instead of 2028 as originally planned, and it would open in 2033 if the project passes feasibility and environmental studies and is approved by the government of the day.
The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.
