Mr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways (DOH), announced that the DOH, through its Bridge Construction Office, is preparing to start trial operations of the “Pradok Intersection Underpass” and the “Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Intersection Underpass” in Nakhon Ratchasima Province from 3 June 2026 onwards. This aims to improve traffic flow on Mittraphap Road, resolve bottlenecks, reduce accidents, and support the economic growth of the Northeastern region in the future.
Nakhon Ratchasima Province is a key economic, commercial, investment, and transportation center in the Northeast, particularly along Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road), a strategic route connecting Bangkok to the regions. Traffic volume has steadily increased due to urban expansion, large-scale government projects, and growth in economy and tourism. Therefore, urgent development of critical intersections in Nakhon Ratchasima has been undertaken to address traffic bottlenecks, reduce accident losses, and accommodate future travel demands. The two projects opening simultaneously are the “Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Intersection Underpass” and the “Pradok Intersection Underpass,” which will concretely enhance travel efficiency through Korat city.
Regarding the Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Intersection Underpass,it isa construction project for an underpass at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 224 at the Nakhon Ratchasima intersection. Constructed by the Department of Highways’ Bridge Construction Office, it spans 1.181 kilometers with a total budget of 373 million baht. The underpass follows the Mittraphap Road alignment, with two traffic lanes, supporting travel from Khon Kaen Province toward Saraburi Province. It is equipped with drainage, lighting, fire protection, traffic control systems, and full safety equipment according to engineering standards, and is now complete.
Meanwhile, the Pradok Intersection Underpassisa project to build an underpass at the intersection of Highway 2 with Chang Phueak and Siriraj Thani Roads at Pradok Intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. It extends approximately 1.750 kilometers with a construction budget of about 849 million baht. This reinforced concrete underpass has six traffic lanes, divided into three lanes each way, with parallel roads, sidewalks, automatic pumping systems, CCTV, lighting, and safety systems meeting engineering standards to accommodate increasing traffic volumes in Korat city. It has been open for trial operationsince6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. starting 25 May 2026.
Once both projects are fully completed, they will enhance traffic efficiency through Korat city by making travel more convenient, faster, and safer. They will help alleviate congestion, reduce travel times, and improve logistics and transportation performance in the region.
These two underpasses mark a significant step in upgrading Korat’s transportation infrastructure to increase travel mobility and strengthen the Northeastern logistics system. They connect the country’s main transport networks, including the Motorway 6 (M6) Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima project, the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, and the double-track railway project. They also support the expansion of Korat’s economy, trade, investment, and tourism as the economic hub and gateway to the Northeast, effectively and sustainably accommodating increasing travel and transport demands in the future.
The Department of Highways continues to modernize Thailand’s transport infrastructure with a focus on maximum safety and asks the public to strictly follow all warning signs, instructions, and traffic signals within the underpasses to ensure everyone’s safety. For further information or to report issues, the public can contact the Department’s 24-hour hotline at 1586, toll-free.
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