Did You Know? Highway 101 Nan–Chaloem Phra Kiat Officially Opened

The Department of Highways has fully opened the 33.8 km section of Highway 101 (Nan–Chaloem Phra Kiat), enhancing travel to Huai Kon checkpoint and supporting Thailand-Laos border trade, boosting the northern economy and tourism.

Highway 101 Nan–Chaloem Phra Kiat route launched to support economic stimulus policy.

The Department of Highways announced the full opening of Highway 101’s Ban Pon to Chaloem Phra Kiat section, covering 33.8 km. This upgrade improves travel safety to Huai Kon checkpoint, promotes logistics, trade, investment, and tourism linking Thailand and Laos, stimulating the border area's economy.

Mr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways. He revealed that the Department of Highways, through the Construction Office 1, has fully opened the 33.8 km stretch of Highway 101 from Nan to Chaloem Phra Kiat (Ban Pon to Chaloem Phra Kiat section). After completion, this upgrade enhances travel to Nan’s border area, offering greater convenience, speed, and safety. It also supports the expansion of trade, investment, and tourism linking Thailand with the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

The Highway 101 Nan–Chaloem Phra Kiat project, covering Ban Pon to Chaloem Phra Kiat in Thung Chang and Chaloem Phra Kiat districts of Nan province, aims to upgrade a key northern highway network to accommodate increasing traffic, freight transport, and public travel. The project demonstrates the Department of Highways’ commitment to elevating transport infrastructure standards to efficiently support cross-border travel, logistics, and trade.

Additionally, this route serves as the main transport link connecting Nan province to the Huai Kon permanent border checkpoint in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, a vital gateway for trade with Laos. It efficiently connects travel to the provinces of Xayaburi, Luang Prabang, and Oudomxay in Laos, supporting growth in trade, investment, freight transport, and international tourism. Before the project, the route was winding along the mountains, with narrow pavement and safety limitations.

New highway standards ensure greater safety.

Before the project, the route was winding along mountainous terrain with narrow pavement and safety constraints. The Department of Highways has improved and rebuilt it to a first-class highway standard, with the following engineering details:

• Lane dimensions. Two lanes (one each direction) with asphalt concrete pavement, each lane 3.50 meters wide, and shoulders 2.50 meters wide on each side.
• Steep slopes and hills. An additional climbing lane for heavy trucks was constructed.
• In community areas. Expanded to four lanes with traffic directions separated by concrete barriers.
• Safety measures. Installation of lighting and traffic signals along the entire route.

The project was divided into two phases: Phase 1, from km 471+955 to km 490+200, spanning 18.245 km with a construction budget of 797.56 million baht; Phase 2, from km 490+200 to km 505+853, covering 15.653 km with a construction budget of 747.75 million baht. Both phases are now completed and fully open to the public, reducing travel limitations in mountainous areas and increasing convenience and safety. The route supports efficient transport of agricultural products, consumer goods, and local travel, while promoting grassroots economic development, tourism, and improving quality of life for residents in Nan and nearby areas.

This project aligns with government and Ministry of Transport policies to develop transport and logistics infrastructure to enhance the country's competitiveness. It is a strategic route that strengthens logistics, tourism, and economic development between Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, facilitating travel, trade, and tourism with neighboring ASEAN countries, thereby creating economic opportunities and sustainable development for the long term.

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