The initial phase of the Motorway 8 (M8) project, which will connect Nakhon Pathom to Ratchaburi, is set to commence in 2027, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
This month, the Department of Highways (DoH) plans to submit a proposal for the first phase of the M8 project, which has a budget of 61 billion baht and spans 61 kilometers from Nakhon Pathom to Pak Tho district in Ratchaburi.
Upon cabinet approval, the project will move into the bidding and land acquisition stages, with construction expected to start in 2027 and the motorway anticipated to open in 2031.
As for the second phase, which covers a 48-kilometer stretch from Pak Tho to Cha-Am district in Phetchaburi, the DoH intends to conduct a new route study aimed at reducing the impact of land expropriation in areas that previously faced local complaints about route plans. This study is expected to start this year and take one year to complete.
Mr. Suriya highlighted the urgency of this project, stating it will provide motorists with an alternative route to the South and help alleviate traffic congestion on Rama II Road. The M8 motorway will feature a four-lane design—two lanes in each direction—an 80-meter-wide road reserve, three rest areas, seven entrance and exit points, and a toll system based on distance traveled.
This initiative is one of the key projects outlined in the 20-Year Master Plan for Expressway Development (2017–2036) and forms part of the North-South Economic Corridor strategy. Once completed, the M8 will serve as an essential transport link between central and southern Thailand, improving logistics efficiency, alleviating traffic on Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road), and supporting economic and tourism growth in the western and southern regions.
