BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has approved World Bank financing for two major bridge projects in the South, including a long-awaited bridge connecting Koh Lanta in Krabi province and a new crossing over Songkhla Lake linking Songkhla and Phatthalung. The Cabinet on July 7 approved a proposal from the Ministry of Finance to borrow funds from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) totaling US$140.76 million (around 4.55 billion baht), along with a grant of US$4 million (around 129.3 million baht) to support the projects.
The funding will be used for the Koh Lanta Bridge Project and the Songkhla Lake Bridge Project, which aim to improve transport links, reduce travel times, and support economic development and tourism in southern Thailand. The Koh Lanta Bridge will connect Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi in Krabi province, with a planned length of 2.24 kilometers and a construction budget of around 1.85 billion baht. The Songkhla Lake Bridge will connect Krasae Sin district in Songkhla province with Khao Chaison district in Phatthalung province. The project will span approximately 7 kilometers, with a total budget of around 4.84 billion baht.
The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) said construction costs for both projects will be financed through a combination of 70 percent World Bank loans and 30 percent government funding.
DRR Director-General Pichit Hunsiri said the international bidding process for both projects has already been completed. Following Cabinet approval, the Ministry of Finance will complete the loan procedures with the World Bank before contracts can be signed with construction companies. The contracts are expected to be signed in August 2026, with construction scheduled to begin later this year. The new infrastructure is expected to improve access for local communities while supporting tourism growth by creating more convenient travel routes to southern destinations, particularly Koh Lanta, one of Krabi’s most popular island destinations.
