Thailand opens two motorway sections for free trial use in August
Thailand will open free trial sections of the M6 and M82 motorways in late August, with different schedules, vehicle rules and access points.
- Two motorway sections, M6 (Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong) and M82 (Ekkachai–Ban Phaeo), will open for toll-free trial use in late August to ease traffic.
- The M6 section will open on August 21, but only on weekends (Friday noon to Sunday midnight) and will be restricted to four-wheeled cars.
- The M82 section will open on August 28, operating 24 hours a day and will be accessible to cars, trucks, and buses.
- The initiative aims to reduce travel times and relieve congestion on the parallel Mittraphap Road and Rama II Road corridors.
Thailand is preparing to open two motorway sections for toll-free trial use in late August, giving motorists more travel options while helping reduce journey times and ease traffic on Mittraphap Road and Rama II Road.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana explained that the government, through the Transport Ministry and Department of Highways, would open two routes: the Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section of Motorway No 6 (M6), part of the Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima route, and Motorway No 82 (M82), the Bang Khun Thian–Ekkachai–Ban Phaeo route.
Although both will be available free of charge during the trial period, their opening days and hours, entry and exit points and permitted vehicle types will differ because some sections remain under construction or are still undergoing system installation.
M6 Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong opens free at weekends
The 110-kilometre Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section of M6 will begin trial operations on Friday (August 21). It will be open free of charge each weekend from noon on Friday until midnight on Sunday, continuing through the 2027 New Year holiday period.
During the initial phase, only four-wheel cars will be permitted, with a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour. Motorists will be able to enter and leave the Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section through five interchanges: Bang Pa-in, Hin Kong, Kaeng Khoi, Muak Lek and Pak Chong.
However, the Bangkok-bound carriageway between Pak Chong and Muak Lek remains under construction. Travellers leaving Pak Chong for Bangkok will therefore need to use Thanarat Road and Mittraphap Road before joining M6 at the Muak Lek interchange.
The Department of Highways will open the Thap Kwang rest areas on both sides of the motorway, with toilets and drinks available. However, there are currently no petrol stations or electric-vehicle charging points.
Motorists are therefore advised to ensure they have sufficient fuel or battery charge before entering the motorway to avoid problems during their journey.
The M6 section from Pak Chong to the Nakhon Ratchasima bypass will continue to operate free of charge around the clock every day.
M82 Bang Khun Thian–Ban Phaeo opens on August 28
The Department of Highways will also open the 16.4-kilometre Ekkachai–Ban Phaeo section of M82 for trial use.
Combined with the section already in operation, motorists will be able to travel continuously along about 25 kilometres of the Bang Khun Thian–Ekkachai–Ban Phaeo route.
The additional section will open at 10am on Friday (August 28) and will remain available free of charge 24 hours a day.
Unlike the Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section, which is limited to four-wheel cars, M82 will be open to cars, trucks and buses.
Cars will be subject to a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, while trucks and buses will be limited to 65 kilometres per hour.
Four entry and exit points will initially be available on the Bang Khun Thian–Ban Phaeo motorway: Phanthai Norasing, Mahachai 1, Mahachai 2 and Ban Phaeo.
The Samut Sakhon 1 and Samut Sakhon 2 interchanges will remain closed during this phase.
Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles and all types of wheeled carts will be prohibited from using the elevated M82 motorway for safety reasons.
Different conditions apply to the two routes
Lalida noted that although both motorway routes will be available free of charge, motorists should be aware of the clear differences in their operating conditions.
The Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section will open only at weekends and will be restricted to four-wheel cars. The Bang Khun Thian–Ban Phaeo route, by contrast, will operate 24 hours a day and accommodate cars, trucks and buses.
Travellers are therefore advised to check operating days and hours, available interchanges and permitted vehicle types before setting out.
The government views the trial openings as part of efforts to provide more travel options and improve transport efficiency.
The Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section is expected to help relieve traffic on Mittraphap Road, the main route to Thailand’s Northeast, while the Bang Khun Thian–Ban Phaeo section will provide another travel option along the Rama II Road corridor linking Bangkok and Samut Sakhon as the route is gradually developed towards full operation.
