BANGKOK, THAILAND – A proposed 55‑billion‑baht bridge was presented as a potential permanent link between Koh Samui and the Thai mainland, with promises of a major economic boost for the south.
Plans for mega bridge outlined
Former Bangkok deputy governor Dr. Samart Ratchapolsitte published concrete details of the project on Facebook. The bridge was planned to run from Don Sak in Surat Thani province to Taling Ngam Beach on Koh Samui.
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) was already examining technical feasibility and environmental impacts. The combined length of the bridge and approach roads would be 37.41 kilometers.
The link was envisaged as a cable‑stayed bridge, with construction expected to take five years. With smooth approval, work could begin in 2029 and the opening could follow in 2037.
From island to peninsula: shifting Samui’s role
Koh Samui was currently dependent on ferry services, which were weather‑sensitive, costly and time‑consuming for both passengers and cargo.
Dr. Samart argued that a fixed crossing would fundamentally reshape the region’s economy.
“It is not only about transport, it is about an economic transformation.”
said Samart Ratchapolsitte, former deputy governor of Bangkok.
He said the crossing would turn an unpredictable sea journey into a reliable car trip.
Tourism super‑cluster linking Samui, Phangan and Phuket
According to the concept, the true impact would emerge in combination with another planned motorway from Surat Thani to Phuket. Travel time between Samui and Phuket would be cut from six hours to about two and a half hours.
Tourists could then easily undertake road trips across multiple top destinations. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Phuket and the Andaman coast would merge into a single tourism cluster.
Longer stays and higher visitor spending were expected to distribute income more evenly to restaurants and local communities, including smaller towns.
Benefits beyond tourism: logistics and social gains
Project advocates said the bridge would also bring major advantages for agriculture and fisheries. Transport costs would fall and deliveries of fresh products would become more reliable.
Samui could evolve from a pure tourism island into a logistics and distribution hub. Emergency patients would no longer have to wait for ferry schedules, which, according to the vision, could save lives.
Students and workers would find it easier to commute between the island and the mainland without relocating their primary residence.
Long‑term investment in Thailand’s future
The project, with an estimated investment volume of 55 billion baht (about 1.38 billion euros), was presented as a long‑term prospect. Dr. Samart saw in it an opportunity for the wider Thai economy.
He publicly backed EXAT and urged that the project be pushed forward. In his words, the structure would be more than concrete and steel; it would be an artery for new prosperity in southern Thailand.
Whether the government would find the resolve to realize what supporters called a project of the century remained unclear. The vision, however, was described as grand.
Open questions over costs and consequences
Public debate raised the contrast between a bridge connecting islands, cities and markets and a multi‑billion‑baht project with an uncertain outcome. Commentators weighed promises of more tourists, faster transport and better emergency care against potential risks.
Questions remained over who would bear the cost if the environment, local communities or state finances suffered. It was still uncertain whether the Samui bridge would become a breakthrough for the south or remain a dream with too many unresolved issues.