The Department of Highways (DoH) announced that the 96 km M81 motorway, linking Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi, will be fully operational by the end of 2025. Construction is nearly complete, with only final road system works and maintenance remaining. The motorway traverses four provinces—Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi—and includes six-lane and four-lane sections.
Equipped with intelligent traffic systems such as automatic tolling via M-Flow, speed detection, and roadside assistance, the M81 is expected to ease regional congestion. Eight toll gates will be operational across key locations. Trial operations, launched in late 2024 on weekends, showed strong demand with 35,000–40,000 daily users and reduced holiday congestion by up to 34 per cent.
Once fully opened, travel time between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi is projected to drop to just 50 minutes, enhancing both commuter convenience and tourism connectivity.
