Expressway to Pattaya to be canceled after consulting with communities

An expensive infrastructure project is abandoned in response to strong objections from affected communities.

Sound like the stuff of fantasy? Such an implausible story proved reality today with word that plans to build a new expressway linking Bangkok and Pattaya will likely be scrapped because it’s just not worth it, officials said.

Construction of the Burapha Vithi-Pattaya Expressway, expected to stretch about 70 kilometers and cost THB50 billion, has met with fierce resistance from communities and wouldn’t have been a huge economic boon, according to officials at a final public hearing in Sri Racha on Sunday.

“The financial return from the project is estimated to be low and many residents along the way do not want it, so we think it might not be worthwhile to proceed,” Kerati Kijmanawat said of the project in the Bangkok Post, describing its construction as “no longer viable.”

Envisioned as a way to improve outbound traffic flow from eastern Bangkok, the project was in its study phase.

The Expressway Authority had considered eight different routes but faced resistance to all of them. Instead they will likely consider expanding highway capacity along existing routes.