Seabed test drilling starts for Koh Samui bridge

According to the Marine Office’s Koh Samui tree, ground cutting began on Monday for a geographic study for a project to build a gate connecting Koh Samui and land Surat Thani.

The company made the announcement, signed by business acting producer Adul Ralukemul, as a precaution to inform vessels that may be sailing in the area.

The warning applies to latitude 09″19’15.19″ N and longitude 009″49’05.59″ E to latitude 09″24’18.28″ N and longitude 009″57’9.47″E, said the announcement.

Boats should stay at least 300 meters from the area for health reasons, he said. Buoys with lights have been placed along the limit of the cutting area, which extends from the lower portion of Koh Samui area to Khanom district in neighboring Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The drilling, which is expected to last 140 days, will be used to find a suitable spot to build the Samui sea bridge, according Surachet Laophunsuk, governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand ( Exat ). Exat is holding a public reading to find out whether people would be interested in a 40-minute car ride on the four-lane gate.

The starting price for using the bridge has been set at 700 ringgit per car, which is a little less expensive than taking a ferry to the area if you want to travel there. The boat ride takes many hours and costs 760 baht per person traveling by car.