A new intersection along the Cha-am bypass is now fully open to traffic, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing expansion of Highway 37 between Cha-am and Hua Hin.
The overpass at the Huai Ta Paet intersection in Sampraya Subdistrict, Cha-am District, opened at the end of June and allows vehicles to travel smoothly in both directions—northbound towards Bangkok and southbound towards Hua Hin and Pranburi.
The opening is part of a larger infrastructure project aimed at improving road safety, easing congestion, and supporting economic and tourism development in the region. Overseen by the Department of Highways, the 50-kilometre project involves upgrading the current four-lane road to six lanes, constructing six grade-separated interchanges, and adding 17 U-turn points.
Once completed, Highway 37 will consist of three 3.5-metre-wide lanes in each direction, separated by a 10.6-metre-wide central median with concrete barriers. Hard shoulders will measure 2.5 metres on the outer edge and one metre on the inner edge. The total project budget is 7 billion baht, with construction scheduled to run through to 2026.
The expanded route begins at the Cha-am interchange on Phetkasem Road and passes through key locations including Huai Taphat, Chang Thaeng Krachat, Silpakorn University, Wat Huai Mongkol, and the Hua Hin District Office, before reconnecting with Phetkasem Road at the Wang Yao interchange in Pranburi.
According to the Department of Highways, the development of Highway 37 is aligned with the country’s 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027), and is designed to improve connectivity across upper southern Thailand.
The section at Huai Taphat, including the newly opened overpass, was one of the initial parts of the project to receive funding. In the 2023 fiscal year, 50 million baht was allocated to this junction, which has a total construction cost of 250 million baht.
Daily traffic on Highway 37 was recorded at around 29,000 vehicles in 2020 and is projected to increase to nearly 35,000 by 2026, and over 53,000 by 2044. The road is a key route for residents and visitors, particularly during weekends and holiday periods when congestion often builds up.
To address these pressures, six grade-separated interchanges have been incorporated into the project, located at:
Chonlaprathan Canal (km 2+111.476)
Huai Taphat (km 10+530.384)
Chang Thaeng Krachat (km 16+838.098)
Silpakorn University (km 19+450.735)
Hua Hin District Office (km 33+989.081)
Nong Phai (km 39+173.753)
The 17 new U-turn points are also designed to improve traffic flow and safety. These include 11 flyover U-turns allowing vehicles to pass beneath, four U-turns beneath canal bridges, and two box culvert U-turns constructed with input from local communities to minimise environmental impact and support safe crossings for small vehicles, motorcycles, and animals.
The project also includes landscaping at junctions and the use of decorative concrete at roundabouts and underpasses, both to improve the visual appearance of the road and to enhance safety.
With work visible along the stretch between Hua Hin and locations such as the Springfield Golf Course, progress on the project is continuing. The Department of Highways expects the full upgrade to be completed by the end of 2026.
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