Proposed tunnel aims to bypass steep mountain road between Kathu and Patong
The Expressway Authority of Thailand has presented a detailed plan for a 3.98-kilometre expressway and tunnel that would link Kathu with Patong on Phuket island, aiming to bypass a steep and accident-prone mountain route and dramatically shorten travel times.
According to the proposal submitted to the Thai Cabinet, the Rlong (sic) project carries an estimated cost of 16.8 billion baht and includes a 1.85-kilometre tunnel under Khao Nak Kerd. The scheme would provide separate lanes for cars and motorcycles and aims to reduce what is currently about a 30-minute journey to roughly five minutes.
Project proponents told Thai media the new route could attract heavy daily volumes, with forecasts of 50,000–60,000 vehicles a day during the first year of operation. Proposed tolls have been lowered substantially in revised plans, the authority said, to encourage use of the new link.
"The route would bypass the steep and accident-prone mountain road, potentially reducing a roughly 30-minute journey to about five minutes,"
The Expressway Authority expects the Cabinet to consider the plan in December, according to reporting. If approval is granted on schedule, work could start in October 2027, with a target opening date of October 2031.
What the plan would deliver
- Length: 3.98 km expressway including a 1.85 km tunnel beneath Khao Nak Kerd
- Estimated cost: 16.8 billion baht
- Travel time reduction: about 30 minutes to five minutes
- Projected daily traffic: 50,000–60,000 vehicles in year one
- Proposed timeline: Cabinet consideration in December; construction from October 2027; opening targeted October 2031
Local reporting quoted a Buddhist scholar, Banjob Bannaruji, in a separate item clarifying that a reported 2 billion baht linked to a Bangkok abbot’s hospital projects was buyer-funded by private supporters and government contributions rather than the monk’s personal wealth. That item was part of the same news compilation that described the Kathu–Patong expressway proposal.
Implications and context for travellers and planners
For visitors and residents on Phuket, the proposed tunnel would remove the most accident-prone section of the existing road between Kathu and Patong — a frequent concern during holiday seasons when traffic surges. Shorter transit times could reshape journey planning for tourists, freight and daily commuters, while the mixed-use lanes for motorcycles acknowledge the island’s varied traffic mix.
Engineers and planners will, if the project proceeds, face typical challenges of tunnel construction in coastal and karst environments: ensuring geotechnical safety, drainage and ventilation, and managing construction impacts on nearby communities and the environment. The proposal does not, in the reporting, provide detail on environmental assessments, compensation or specific toll levels beyond the statement that tolls have been reduced.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Total length | 3.98 km |
| Tunnel length | 1.85 km |
| Estimated cost | 16.8 billion baht |
| Projected daily traffic (year 1) | 50,000–60,000 vehicles |
| Construction start (proposed) | October 2027 |
| Target opening | October 2031 |
For readers in Kathu, Northern Cape, the name will be familiar but refers to a district in Phuket province rather than to the South African mining town. The Phuket plan illustrates how transport infrastructure projects can rapidly alter movement patterns on a small, tourism-dependent island. Should the Cabinet approve the expressway, travel between Kathu and Patong may look very different within a decade.
Reporting on the proposal emphasised that final decisions rest with the Thai Cabinet and that timelines are conditional on that approval. The Expressway Authority’s forecasts drive expectations for traffic and revenue, but further public disclosures — including environmental clearances, detailed toll schedules and construction contracts — will be necessary before work can proceed.
