Government targets 2031 Phuket expressway Phase 1 opening to cut trips to five minutes
Phuket’s Kathu–Patong expressway is expected to go before Cabinet in December 2026, with construction targeted for October 2027
- Phase 1 of the Phuket expressway, connecting Kathu and Patong, is targeted to open in October 2031
- The expressway's mountain tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between the two areas from 30 minutes to five minutes
- The project's timeline includes a four-year construction period scheduled to begin in October 2027, pending Cabinet approval
- Beyond saving time, the project aims to improve travel safety, ease traffic congestion, and support Phuket's economy and tourism
Deputy Government Spokeswoman Ploytalay Laksameesangchan said on September 16, 2026 that Phuket Expressway Phase 1, linking Kathu and Patong, is targeted to open in October 2031. The planned mountain tunnel is expected to cut travel time between the two areas from 30 minutes to five minutes.
The Kathu–Patong expressway project forms part of the government’s efforts to ease traffic congestion and support economic growth in Phuket, Ploytalay said.
Smaller tunnel proposed for Kathu–Patong expressway
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has submitted details of the revised Kathu–Patong expressway project to the Transport Ministry, Ploytalay said. The changes include reducing the planned tunnel diameter from 17 metres to 14 metres, with relevant agencies currently being consulted.
Phuket expressway timetable targets October 2031 opening
Ploytalay outlined a timetable for Phuket Expressway Phase 1 that targets an official opening in October 2031. The project still needs Cabinet approval, with the following milestones planned:
- December 2026: Expected submission to Cabinet for approval
- January 2027: Target completion of land acquisition, including expropriation
- April 2027: Expected selection of a contractor through competitive bidding
- October 2027: Scheduled start of the four-year construction period
- September 2031: Expected completion of construction
- October 2031: Target date for the official opening
“Building this expressway will help travellers between Kathu and Patong avoid the limitations of the existing route, with interchanges on both the Patong and Kathu sides providing full connections to the surrounding road network,” Ploytalay said.
Shorter journeys and safer travel expected on Kathu–Patong route
Ploytalay identified shorter journeys, improved access and safer travel as expected benefits of Phuket’s Kathu–Patong expressway. The government outlined the following benefits and traffic projections:
- Travel time: Journeys between Kathu and Patong are expected to fall from 30 minutes to five minutes when using the tunnel
- Traffic demand: Average use is forecast at 50,000–60,000 vehicles a day, including cars and motorcycles
- Economy and tourism: Easier access to major tourist attractions and economic areas is expected to improve travel across Phuket
- Safety: The expressway is intended to reduce reliance on the existing mountain road, whose physical constraints limit travel conditions and safety
