Construction on key infrastructure projects along Rama II Road is set to be completed by late 2025, according to government officials. The Rama III-Outer Ring Road Expressway is expected to be operational by the end of that year, while the Bang Khun Thian-Ekachai-Ban Phaeo section of Motorway M82 will be open for toll-free use for two years before toll collection begins in 2028. Meanwhile, the investigation into a crane collapse at the M82 construction site has been extended by one month as officials continue gathering evidence.
The Department of Highways reported that the 25-kilometer Motorway M82 project is progressing in two main sections. The Bang Khun Thian-Ekachai stretch, divided into three contracts, is 98.42% complete, while the Ekachai-Ban Phaeo section, spanning ten contracts, has reached 70.6% completion. Construction work is scheduled to be finished by November 2025, with system installations taking place between late 2025 and early 2026. The motorway will be open for free use while the tolling system is set up, with paid access starting in 2028.
The Rama III-Dao Khanong-Outer Ring Road Expressway, managed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), is also nearing completion. The 18.7-kilometer project is currently 87.06% finished. Among its five construction contracts, the elevated road section between Bang Khun Thian and Central Rama II is over 81% complete, while the stretch from Central Rama II to Bang Pakok 9 Hospital is nearly 95% done. The cable-stayed bridge over the Chao Phraya River is already in use. The expressway is expected to open by the end of 2025.
Separately, an investigation into the collapse of a steel gantry crane during M82 construction on November 29, 2024, remains ongoing. Authorities have identified two possible causes: structural instability in the crane itself or unsafe operational control. The preliminary findings suggest that human error in operational oversight was a significant factor. Further witness testimony is being gathered, and the final report is expected within a month.
Officials overseeing the projects, including Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and Department of Highways Director-General Apirat Chaiwongnoi, have reaffirmed their commitment to completing construction on schedule while maintaining safety standards.
