Prachuap Khiri Khan authorities have outlined plans for a 900-million-baht overpass at the intersection of Highway No. 4 (Phetkasem Road) and Highway No. 326 in Mueang District. The project aims to alleviate congestion and support traffic flow in 14 southern provinces. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 and take approximately three years to complete.
On 11 March, a public consultation meeting was held at the Koh Lak meeting room in Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Hall, chaired by Governor Sittichai Sawatsan. The meeting, organised by the Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) Highway District under the Department of Highways, provided details of the proposed overpass. Attendees included Deputy Governor Sinath O-aiam, Narongrit Phrompradit, Director of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Highway District (Hua Hin), civil engineers from the Department of Highways, and local stakeholders.
The project will see the construction of a six-lane elevated road, with three lanes in each direction, each measuring 3.5 metres in width. The underpass beneath the overpass will have a clearance height of 5.5 metres and will include a U-turn section. The project will span 3.4 kilometres, beginning near Highway Police Station 3, Division 2, and ending near the Lotus Prachuap Khiri Khan shopping centre, approximately 500 metres from Koh Lak Intersection.
The Department of Highways stated that the project will be built within the existing road corridor, meaning no land expropriation will be required. Upon completion, the overpass is expected to accommodate up to 29,534 vehicles per day on Highway No. 4 and 7,184 vehicles per day on Highway No. 326.
A vote was conducted during the meeting, with 23 participants in favour of the project and 14 opposing it. Concerns raised included the potential impact on roadside businesses along Phetkasem Road, as construction could lead to reduced sales and inconvenience for customers. Other issues raised included dust pollution, health risks, and the need for mitigation measures. Some attendees requested further data on traffic congestion at Prachuap Intersection to justify the project, as well as assurances regarding drainage in nearby canals during construction.
In response, the Department of Highways engineering team emphasised the necessity of the overpass, citing its importance as a key entry point into Prachuap Khiri Khan and a crucial route for managing traffic, particularly during peak travel seasons. Officials assured that public feedback would be taken into account, with site inspections to be conducted to address specific concerns. Measures will also be implemented to minimise inconvenience to the public.
The Department of Highways has also indicated plans to allocate funding for future overpass projects at Koh Lak Intersection, Nong Hin Intersection (leading to Singkhon Border Checkpoint), and other key locations along Phetkasem Road.
