The Department of Highways, together with the Engineering Institute of Thailand, conducted on-site inspections of the M82 Rama 2 motorway construction, enforcing strict safety checks and emphasizing traffic management plans during Segment installation to minimize disruption to the public.
Mr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways (DOH) Along with Associate Professor Anek Siriphanichakorn, President of the Engineering Institute of Thailand under Royal Patronage (EIT), and a team of engineering experts visited the site to monitor progress and inspect safety measures for the elevated highway project No. 82 (M82) from Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo, specifically the Ekachai–Ban Phaeo section, ensuring all work adheres strictly to safety standards and construction protocols.
Mr. Piyapong revealed that following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic cooperation between the Department of Highways and EIT on 13 March, expert knowledge has been integrated with road management to provide technical advice and consultation on construction methods and procedures, aiming for maximum safety and engineering standard compliance.
The DOH management team and EIT experts held a meeting at the project’s traffic management center (km 27) to establish strict safety supervision and control measures during construction. They also reviewed safety planning for traffic management to comprehensively prevent risks across all dimensions, including the integrity of the launching gantry equipment, completeness of tests and certifications for components, and adherence to operational procedures, especially during concrete segment lifting. Plans for traffic management, safety facilitation during construction, and clear communication of traffic diversion plans to road users in advance were also emphasized.
After the meeting, the team inspected construction zones of M82 Sections 4 and 7, which involve critical risk-controlled tasks. They monitored actual work, including the stability of large steel structures and key machinery essential for bridge segment installation, as well as maintenance of the elevated roadwork area. This was to ensure public confidence in safety. Supervisors and workers were reminded to strictly follow the 5-dimensional safety measures.
Regarding traffic management on Rama 2 Road, the Department of Highways has limited work areas to reduce public impact, restricting main lane diversions to only two points: Section 4 (near HomePro Mahachai) and Section 7 (before the Tha Chin River bridge). Completion of work at these two points is expected within two months.
Starting 28 March 2026, the Department of Highways will implement a traffic management plan for Section 7’s main lanes, aligned with construction schedules, as follows:
The frontage road will remain open with two lanes per direction, 24 hours a day.
Additionally, the Director-General emphasized a policy to facilitate travel during the upcoming Songkran festival by halting all construction activities and fully restoring the road surface on Rama 2 Road from 10 to 16 April 2026, ensuring maximum safety and convenience for travelers returning home.
The Department of Highways apologizes for any inconvenience caused by construction and requests road users to drive cautiously, strictly follow warning signs, plan their trips in advance, and consider alternative routes. Information and incident reports can be made via the Department’s 24-hour hotline at 1586.
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