Underground Expressway will cost$ 50 billion.
Following a 17-month initial feasibility study, residents of Exat have opposed the Expressway Authority of Thailand’s ( Exat ) plan to construct an underground route to replace a contentious N1 Expressway development.
Exat held a second reading on the task at a motel in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area on Saturday, attended by more than 50 people.
Manawat Kamolsilp, a citizen, said that building the underwater road would cost about 50 billion ringgit, compared to 17 billion ringgit for the increased road.
” It is not appropriate to spend more money on the underground way. Construction costs will be lower and the linkages to different projects will be simpler.
” Maintenance fees for the raised road may be lower, and toll charges will also be cheaper, “he said.
Locals were given their territory taken away for the road construction project several years ago, according to Lt Gen Mahatthana Kamolsilp, and more land would probably need to be taken away from them for the anticipated underground route. Some were unlikely to welcomed the intrusion.
Surachet Laophulsuk, the government of Exat, stated on Saturday that Exat will finalize the project details before requesting government approval for the task.
Early next time, an environmental impact assessment is anticipated to be conducted.
Bidding is cautiously scheduled for 2026, with building beginning the following year, if the government approves it.
Mr Surachet recently mentioned the company had considered many aspects, including executive, purchase costs, and the climate impact, and found the underpass to be the most appropriate option.
The 6.3-kilometre overpass, which will be the country’s earliest road hole, may move along Ngarmwongwan Road via Phongphet Intersection, Bang Khen Intersection, and Kaset Intersection to Prasertmanukit Road before connecting with the N2 Expressway.
The tunnel, which is built in a split and support construction, will have an access point and leave with a diameter of 1.75km, as well as an elevated construction with a size of 2.49km to link with the N2-phase expressway.
” The pipe will be over 40 metres large, about the top of a 10-storey constructing,” Mr Surachet said.
Because it was built on base pillars installed on Prasertmanukit Road, also known as Kaset Navawin Road, 25 times before, Mr. Surachet added that the N2 and N1 parts will only be accessible to four-wheelers.
He claimed that the tunnel’s design and other relevant buildings may cost an estimated 49 billion ringgit.
Of this number, 44.5 billion will be spent on construction, 3.6 billion ringgit will be allocated for property confiscation costs, and 1.06 billion ringgit will be earmarked for development control.
According to him, Exat is financially sound and might even consider funding the project by itself. The company may also issue bonds to raise development funds.
Design is expected to take about five years, with an estimated traffic quantity of 70, 000 vehicles per day in the first year of operation, half of the route’s full capacity.
Mr. Surachet expressed confidence that the proposed underpass would address the environmental concerns raised by the previous design.
He mentioned that the northern portion of the three-phase expressway construction is broken into two stages.
The first stage, known as the N2, covers an area of 11.3 km between Prasertmanukit Road and the eastern Outer Ring Road, which cost 16.9 billion baht to build.
Following discussions with Kasetsart University and local communities along the planned route, N1 Exat conducted a feasibility study of alternative ways to replace the contentious section.