According to the provincial governor, Trakul Thotham, construction of a new bridge connecting Thailand and Malaysia in the Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat is slated to potentially begin in April next year, pending the completion of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), as reported by the Bernama news agency. The governor conveyed this information during a briefing to members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Sungai Kolok, where they also inspected the current bridge linking the district to Rantau Panjang in Kelantan state, Malaysia.
The provincial public relations office of Narathiwat detailed the OIC’s visit, focusing on the expansion of economic and tourism activities between the two nations rather than specifying the construction commencement date. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai mentioned that the EIA is anticipated to be finalized by September, with the government allocating 160 million baht for the construction.
Initially approved in 2009 to alleviate traffic on the existing bridge, the new bridge over the Kolok River will be constructed parallel to the current structure, featuring a road surface twice as wide to enhance traffic efficiency. The construction expenses will be evenly split between Thailand and Malaysia.
Alongside their inspection of the bridge, OIC representatives toured Yala and Pattani provinces from Tuesday to Thursday.
