Thailand is moving forward with plans to construct two key bridges in the southern provinces, pending final approval from the World Bank. The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has submitted the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Songkhla Lake Bridge and the Koh Lanta Bridge projects, with a combined budget of 6,695 million baht. If approved, bidding for the projects will commence immediately, with construction expected to begin later this year and completion projected for 2029.
The Songkhla Lake Bridge will span 7 kilometers, connecting Krasae Sin District in Songkhla Province to Khao Chai Son District in Phatthalung Province. The project, estimated at 4,841 million baht, includes a 4,700 million baht construction budget and a 141 million baht supervision fee. The bridge is designed with elements of local Manora or Nora artwork and is expected to significantly cut travel time between the two districts from two hours to just 10-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Koh Lanta Bridge, with a total budget of 1,854 million baht, will link Koh Klang and Koh Lanta Noi in Krabi Province. This 1,825-meter bridge will provide a 24-hour transportation link, eliminating the need for ferry crossings and reducing travel time to approximately 10 minutes.
Funding for both projects includes a loan agreement negotiated by the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) under the Ministry of Finance. The World Bank is expected to finance 70% of construction costs—amounting to approximately 4,550 million baht—while the remaining 30% will come from the national budget. While the Ministry of Finance is still finalizing the loan agreement, procurement processes are moving forward to prevent delays.
If the World Bank approves the TOR, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will publish the draft online for international bidding. However, the contract with the selected contractor will not be finalized until the loan agreement is officially signed. The winning bidder is expected to be announced by the end of July 2025.
The Cabinet initially approved the construction principles for both projects on October 18, 2022. Several officials and representatives from relevant agencies are overseeing the project’s development.
