The Department of Highways (DoH) has announced that the M81 “Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi” motorway, currently 99% complete in construction and 66% complete in system installations, will open for free travel during the New Year holiday season. The 96-kilometer route will be accessible from 12:01 AM on December 26, 2024, to midnight on January 2, 2025.
The temporary service will extend beyond the current 51-kilometer stretch running from the Nakhon Pathom West Checkpoint to the Kanchanaburi Checkpoint, which is typically operational only on Fridays and Mondays.
During the New Year period, travelers can use six checkpoints along the route, including Bang Yai, Nakhon Pathom East, Nakhon Pathom West, Thamaka, Tha Muang, and Kanchanaburi. However, the Golden Head and Nakhon Chai Si checkpoints remain under construction.
Full operation of the M81 motorway, including toll collection, is expected to begin in 2026, offering a significant boost to regional connectivity and easing travel between Bang Yai and Kanchanaburi.
