The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has been instructed to fast-track the disbursement of its THB53 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, with a focus on two key bridge projects in southern Thailand aimed at improving connectivity and regional economic growth.
The DRR plans to allocate at least 50 per cent of its budget by mid-fiscal year, prioritising projects that support the movement of agricultural goods from rural areas to urban markets. The two major bridge investments, valued at THB6.5 billion, include the THB4.84-billion Songkhla Lake Bridge linking Krasae Sin district in Songkhla with Phatthalung’s Khao Chaison district, and the THB1.85 billion Koh Lanta Bridge in Krabi province. Funding for both projects will come from World Bank loans (70 per cent) and state funds (30 per cent), with contracts expected to be signed by the end of the year following the completion of technical and financial assessments.
The initiatives form part of the broader Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) infrastructure plan, which seeks to connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea through the Land Bridge mega-project. The SEC Bill is expected to be tabled in parliament when the new session opens on December 12, 2025, marking a major milestone in advancing Thailand’s southern transport infrastructure.