The Ministry of Transport revealed that in the first three days after opening the M6 Motorway between Bang Pa-in and Pak Chong, traffic volume surged to 60,000 vehicles, reducing congestion on Mittraphap Road by up to 30%. The accident rate was zero, and the motorway is open free every weekend.
Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, shared updates following the trial opening of the Motorway No. 6 (M6), or the Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima route, specifically the Bang Pa-in to Pak Chong section, about 110 kilometers long. He said that the overall trial period during the first three days (21-23 August 2026) proceeded smoothly and received excellent feedback.
According to the Ministry of Transport, traffic from Friday, 21 August, to Sunday, 23 August 2026, saw over 60,000 vehicles entering and exiting the system. This helped relieve accumulated traffic on main routes such as Phahonyothin Road and Mittraphap Road by about 20-30%.
Additionally, using the M6 route significantly reduced travel time. Traveling from the origin at Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, to the Nakhon Ratchasima bypass took only about 2 hours, saving travelers 1-2 hours compared to normal routes.
Mr. Pipat added that the main goal of the M6 Motorway is to increase travel options, reduce vehicle congestion, and enhance highway network efficiency. Opening the Bang Pa-in to Pak Chong section allows travelers from Bangkok and the metropolitan area to easily disperse to areas like Wang Noi, Hin Kong, Saraburi, Kaeng Khoi, Muak Lek, and Pak Chong.
Besides serving routes to the Northeast, the Saraburi junction also provides an alternative for those traveling northward to provinces like Lopburi and Phetchabun.
Importantly, during the first three days of the trial, there were no reported accidents on the M6 route, reflecting the safety and standards of this new road network.
For the trial use of the M6 section from Bang Pa-in to Pak Chong, free service is available only on weekends, with the following schedule:
After weekends, authorities will close the route to accelerate construction and complete remaining work as planned.
The Ministry of Transport and the Department of Highways ask road users to follow warning and advisory signs and obey traffic laws to maintain the “zero accident” standard while ensuring comfort and convenience for all travelers.
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