Bangkok: The Department of Highways is gearing up to open a free trial run of the M81 motorway, spanning from Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi, set to commence in 2025. The latest updates reveal that construction work is 99.89% complete, with the trial run already attracting 35,000 vehicles daily and ensuring a swift 50-minute journey from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. This initiative will be notably beneficial during the King's Cup football season, which will offer free 24-hour operation for 13 days.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Apirat Chaiwongnoi, Director-General of the Department of Highways, announced that the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi Intercity Motorway No. 81 project is near completion, with system and maintenance work at 92.89%. The motorway is scheduled for full toll-free trial use by 2025.
The construction of the Intercity Motorway No. 81 began in 2016 and stretches across four provinces: Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi. Designed with six-lane and four-lane standards, it includes Intelligent Traffic Safety and Control (ITS) systems, featuring a barrier-free automatic toll collection system (M-Flow), traffic management systems, speed detection systems, and road user assistance centers.
Since December 26, 2024, the 96-kilometer Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi route has been open for public trial, with free runs available every Friday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 AM on Mondays. The motorway can be accessed at seven checkpoints, although the Si Sa Thong checkpoint remains closed and allows only four-wheel vehicles at a speed limit of 80 km/h.
A special toll-free service will be available from Friday, August 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM to Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM, coinciding with the 51st King's Cup Football Tournament from September 1-9, 2025, at Kanchanaburi Provincial Stadium.
Based on public trial data, the motorway has seen significant usage, averaging 35,000 vehicles daily and effectively reducing festival traffic. During the Songkran Festival, the motorway significantly alleviated traffic congestion, reducing travel time from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi from nearly two hours to just 50 minutes. This development promises increased convenience, speed, and safety for travelers, boosting the Kanchanaburi province's economy and enhancing the country's transportation capacity.