Mr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways (DOH), announced that the DOH, through its Bridge Construction Office, is preparing to open for trial the "Pradok Intersection Underpass" and the "Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Intersection Underpass" in Nakhon Ratchasima province starting 3 June 2026. This aims to improve traffic flow on Mittraphap Road, solve bottleneck traffic problems, reduce accidents, and support the future economic growth of the Northeast region.
Nakhon Ratchasima province is an important economic, trade, investment, and transport center of the Northeast, especially along Highway No. 2 (Mittraphap Road), which is a key strategic route linking Bangkok with other regions. Traffic volume has steadily increased due to urban expansion, major government projects, and economic and tourism growth. Therefore, urgent development at key intersections in Nakhon Ratchasima is underway to resolve traffic bottlenecks, reduce accident losses, and accommodate future travel demand. The two projects opening simultaneously are the "Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Underpass" and the "Pradok Underpass," which will significantly improve travel efficiency through the city area.
Regarding the Nakhon Ratchasima (Terminal) Intersection Underpass,it isa construction project for an underpass at the intersection of Highway No. 2 and Highway No. 224 at Nakhon Ratchasima intersection. Constructed by the DOH Bridge Construction Office, it spans 1.181 kilometers with a total budget of 373 million baht. The underpass runs along Mittraphap Road and has two traffic lanes, supporting travel from Khon Kaen Province towards Saraburi Province. It features drainage systems, lighting, fire prevention, traffic control systems, and full safety equipment meeting engineering standards. Construction is now complete.
Meanwhile, the Pradok Intersection Underpassisa project constructing an underpass at the intersection of Highway No. 2 with Chang Phueak Road and Sirirajthanee Road at Pradok Intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima. It covers approximately 1.750 kilometers with a construction budget of about 849 million baht. This reinforced concrete underpass has six traffic lanes, three lanes per direction, along with parallel roads, sidewalks, automatic pumping systems, CCTV, lighting, and safety systems conforming to engineering standards. It is designed to handle the increasing traffic volume in Nakhon Ratchasima city. The underpass has been open for trial usesince06:00 to 21:00 daily starting 25 May 2026.
Upon completion of both projects, traffic efficiency through Nakhon Ratchasima city will improve in convenience, speed, and safety, helping alleviate congestion, shorten travel time, and enhance logistics and regional transport efficiency.
These two underpasses represent a significant step in upgrading Nakhon Ratchasima's transport infrastructure to increase travel fluidity and strengthen the Northeast's logistics system. They connect with major national transport networks including the Motorway No. 6 (Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima), the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, and the double-track railway project. They also support the province's economic, trade, investment, and tourism expansion as the Northeast's economic hub and gateway, effectively and sustainably accommodating future travel and transport growth.
The Department of Highways continues to modernize Thai transport infrastructure with maximum safety. They urge the public to strictly follow warning signs, instructions, and traffic signals within the tunnels to ensure everyone's travel safety. For more information or to report problems, contact the Department's hotline at 1586, available 24 hours free of charge.
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