A new rest area and commercial zone will be built on the Chon Buri-Pattaya motorway, with tenders for its construction and operation to be called early next year, a source at the Highways Department said.
The rest area will be near Suan Seua Sri Racha (Sri Racha Tiger Park). Terms of reference are being drafted.
It will be built and operated under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Net Cost model. The department will be responsible for the acquisition of land while its business partners will construct and operate the commercial area under a 30-year contract, according to the source.
The commercial development is being sped up because the department plans to open a new tollgate on the Chon Buri-Pattaya motorway in April next year.
It will comprise two commercial sites, one on each side of the motorway. Each site will cover about 50 rai and will include car parks, restaurants and petrol stations.
Tenders are expected to be called early next year, with construction and operation contracts to be signed in March.
The source said the Highways Department also plans rest areas along two new motorways now under construction to Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The 98-kilometre Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi route connects Nonthaburi’s Bang Yai district and the westernmost province. The Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima route links Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in district and the northeastern province, a distance of 196km.
PPP investment models for the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi motorway rest areas are being drawn up and likely to be finalised in mid-2018.
The Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima link will have six rest areas on each side of the motorway. The estimated cost is 9.76 billion baht. The department is seeking Transport Ministry approval for the private sector to invest.
