Department of Rural Roads Accelerates Road Construction to Connect EEC and Support National Development (EEC Station)

 

The government has implemented a policy to develop the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to prepare for infrastructure development, legal frameworks, regulations, and benefits for investors in three provinces: Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong. The goal is to develop this area into a special economic zone. A key aspect of connecting the EEC area is the construction of roads by the Department of Rural Roads, led by Director-General Phisak Jitwiriyawasin, which is one of the government agencies responsible for this task.

 

Director-General Phisak Jitwiriyawasin stated that in the fiscal year 2018, the Department of Rural Roads undertook the construction of seven roads to support the EEC, including: 1. The construction project to expand Rural Road No. RY.3013 from Highway No. 331 to Highway No. 3191 in Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province, covering a distance of 17.324 kilometers. The contractor began work in March 2018 and is currently surveying the construction route and land acquisition.

 

2. The construction project for Rural Road No. RY.4058 from Highway No. 3138 to Highway No. 344 in Ban Khai and Wang Chan Districts, Rayong Province, covering a distance of 32.807 kilometers. Currently, the sub-base layer is under construction for approximately 5 kilometers. 3. The project to expand Rural Road No. RY.5050 from the self-sufficient industrial estate to Ban Huai Pong in Nikhom Phatthana District, Rayong Province, covering a distance of 10.198 kilometers with a budget of 204 million baht.

 

4. The route from Highway No. 7 to Laem Chabang Port in Chachoengsao Province, covering a distance of 10 kilometers with a budget of 1,499 million baht, scheduled for construction in 2020. 5. The overpass project on Rural Road No. ChB.3027 connecting Highway No. 3138 in Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, with a budget of 285 million baht, expected to be completed in 2020. 6. Route RY.2015 from Highway No. 331 in Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province, covering a distance of 11.465 kilometers, expected to be completed in 2021. 7. Route ChCh.3001 from Highway No. 314 to Lat Krabang in Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan Provinces, covering a distance of 20.328 kilometers with a budget of 3,801 million baht, expected to be completed in 2020.

 

 

In 2019, there are rural road development projects to drive the EEC, including Rural Road No. RY.2015 from Highway No. 36 to Highway No. 311 in Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province, covering a distance of 11.465 kilometers with a construction budget of 715 million baht. Traffic problem-solving projects in the metropolitan area and regions include Road No. SP.1011 from Highway No. 3 to Thepharak in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, covering a distance of 3.875 kilometers with a construction budget of 990 million baht, and the road project from Highway No. 3097 to the Provincial Government Center in Nakhon Pathom Province, covering a distance of 3.217 kilometers with a construction budget of 584 million baht. All three projects are funded over three years.

 

Additionally, there are bridge network development projects, including the project to cross the Malang Canal in Mueang District, Satun Province, with a bridge length of 801 meters and a construction budget of 510 million baht, and the project to cross the Du Canal in La-Ngu District, Satun Province, with a bridge length of 1,320 meters and a construction budget of 300 million baht. Both projects are also funded over three years.

 

Preparing for EEC Investment

 

Mr. Phisak stated that the department plans to further develop roads in the EEC, which is currently under feasibility study to determine which routes can be included in the EEC development plan. The government is considering expanding the EEC area towards Sa Kaeo and Prachinburi provinces, and is currently revising plans and conducting further studies to align with government policies.

 

In 2019, the Department of Rural Roads will survey which routes can be included in the EEC plan, such as areas passing through various industrial estates. The department will develop these routes and examine the details of trucks operating on these roads. If there is a high volume of truck traffic, there may be a tendency to expand the traffic lanes to four. Currently, the department has plans to implement an additional 11 routes, starting in 2021, with three items to be included in the construction plan.

 

"The term 'EEC' has inherent potential, especially in Rayong Province, which is an industrial area with supporting infrastructure. The Department of Rural Roads' development in this area is an opportunity to enhance the potential of industrial sites for foreign investment, allowing Thailand to become a learning hub. The government sees opportunities to generate revenue from foreign investments. Therefore, in terms of infrastructure investment, the Department of Rural Roads may not have a large budget, but the EEC area itself has a budget of 750 million baht for investment," Mr. Phisak stated.

 

Mr. Phisak mentioned that in 2021, the department plans to construct 11 routes and is currently preparing to issue a royal decree to define the land acquisition area. It is anticipated that in 2020, if the budget is approved, there will be 2-3 routes ready to start construction. However, it is essential to assess the extent of any land acquisition issues. If there are no significant problems, construction can proceed in 2021.

 

"It is fortunate for the Department of Rural Roads that seven logistics routes have already been studied. When the government announced the EEC area, all seven routes were included in the plan to emphasize their importance. Since they are within the EEC area, they can be implemented immediately, but it is not easy as it takes time to assess whether roads with two lanes need to be expanded to four lanes," Mr. Phisak stated.

 

Accelerating Land Acquisition to Develop Roads for Distributing Prosperity

 

Mr. Phisak stated that for the overall budget in 2019, the department was allocated 46.7 billion baht. Besides being a committed budget, most of it will be for land acquisition, such as the transport connection project in Samut Prakan Province, where land acquisition is required for Road No. SP.4002 from Highway No. 3344 to Ban Bang Phli Yai, covering a distance of 8 kilometers with a land acquisition cost of 450 million baht, and for Road No. 3452 to the Ban Sang intersection in Ban Sang District, Prachinburi Province, covering a distance of 25 kilometers with a land acquisition cost of 500 million baht. Both projects will be implemented in 2019.

 

Overall, it can be seen that the budget for 2019 will primarily be used for land acquisition, as the department is preparing to support the expansion of the EEC. Generally, constructing one road takes about 4-5 years because it requires surveying the area, issuing a royal decree for land acquisition, which takes at least one year, and then surveying the area. The details of compensation also take no less than one year before construction design can begin.

 


 

"The projects in 2019 will primarily focus on land acquisition. Areas with less land acquisition will be budgeted for 2020, while projects with significant land acquisition will be budgeted for 2021, meaning that in 2020, the department will not have large construction projects, focusing instead on road maintenance and safety," Mr. Phisak stated.

 

Mr. Phisak emphasized that the government's traffic problem-solving policy does not aim to expand roads in densely populated areas or cut through such communities, as this causes inconvenience to the public and increases construction costs. Instead, the focus is on developing areas with fewer people, where land acquisition costs are lower. This approach will lead to urban expansion and traffic distribution to other areas, making it a more cost-effective investment. Therefore, this ongoing initiative aligns with the government's traffic problem-solving policy.

 

Supporting Tourism to Enhance the SEC
 

Mr. Phisak stated that in line with the government's policy to promote tourism in secondary cities, the department is accelerating the feasibility study for developing a coastal tourism route along the western Gulf of Thailand, which is a continuation of the Thailand Riviera project. The project will involve constructing a coastal road (The Royal Coast) from Phetchaburi to Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong, covering 515 kilometers.

 


 

Additionally, requests have been made by southern provinces along the Gulf of Thailand to extend the coastal road from Laem District in Chumphon Province to Thepa District in Songkhla Province to enhance tourism potential along the western coastline and maximize its utility. This route can also serve as an alternative to the main road in emergencies. However, much of this route is located in conservation areas and is sensitive to natural resources and the environment, such as mangrove forests.

 

Therefore, the Department of Rural Roads has allocated a remaining budget of 9.5 million baht from 2018 to study the feasibility of developing the coastal tourism route along the western Gulf of Thailand (extension section), covering four provinces: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Songkhla, with a total distance of 578 kilometers, starting from Laem District in Chumphon and ending at Pak Bang District in Thepa, Songkhla. The project duration is 210 days, starting from June 18, 2018, and ending on January 13, 2019.

 

Furthermore, the department is conducting additional detailed studies to connect the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) with communities, but must wait for the government's direction on southern regional concepts. However, based on the policies received, the Thailand Riviera project will be included in this plan. The department will incorporate tourism frameworks into this plan, and it is believed that if included in the budget support plan, the funding will be more substantial. Nevertheless, it is essential to await clear policy guidelines from the government, as the specific areas have not yet been defined.

 

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