Kanchanaphisek Road

Thai Motorway Network (ทางหลวงพิเศษ)
Thai Motorway Shield
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Maintained by Department of Highways
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Highways in Thailand Motorways

Highways in Thailand

The motorways (Thai: ทางหลวงพิเศษ, rtgs: thang luang phiset) in Thailand is an intercity toll controlled-access highways network that currently spans 145 kilometres (90 mi). It is to be greatly extended to 4,154.7 kilometres (2,581.6 mi) according to the master plan. Thailand's motorway network is considered to be separate from Thailand's expressway network, which is the system of expressways, usually elevated, within Greater Bangkok. Thailand also has a provincial highway network.

The Thai highway network spans over 70,000 kilometers across all regions of Thailand. These highways, however, are often dual carriageways with frequent U-turn lanes and intersections slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for limited-access motorways, the Thai Government issued a cabinet resolution in 1997 detailing the motorway construction master plan. Some upgraded sections of highway are being turned into "motorways", while other motorways are being purpose-built.

Motorway 7 stretches from Sri Nakharin Road in Bangkok, passes Motorway Route 9 (Kanchanaphisek Road), Suvarnabhumi Airport towards Pattaya, nearly 150 kilometres (93 mi). It exists separately in two sections. The toll section has eight exits, namely Rom Klao, Lat Krabang, Bang Kwai, Bang Bo, Bang Pakong, Phan Thong, Chonburi, and Bang Phra. There is also a rest station and highway police center at kilometre 50. The free section of this route (former highway Route 36) towards Pattaya is completed. There are also highway widening projects aimed at increasing the capacity of this route to eight lanes. Currently, sections of this route from Srinagarindra Road to Chonburi are eight lanes wide.