Expressway Authority of Thailand, together with Surat Thani Province, organized the 2nd public hearing (results of the selection of suitable routes) for the study of engineering, economic, financial and environmental impacts of the Koh Samui Expressway Project. Today, July 15, 2024, at the Chaweng Meeting Room, Interdisciplinary College, Koh Samui, Surat Thani Rajabhat University, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) organized the 2nd Public Hearing Meeting (Results of Selecting the Most Appropriate Route) on the Study of Engineering, Economics, Finance and Environmental Impacts of the Koh Samui Expressway Project, chaired by Mr. Kampanat Klinsaokan, Koh Samui District Chief and Mr. Surachet Laopoolsuk, Governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand. The meeting was attended by people affected by the incident, including representatives from government and private agencies, local administrative organizations, community leaders, private organizations in the f ield of environmental protection and natural resource conservation, private development organizations, educational institutions, independent academics, the media, and interested members of the general public, approximately 300 people. Following the policy of the Minister of Transport for the Department of Highways (DOH), the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) and the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to integrate their operations together to ensure that the development of intercity expressway projects, rural highway projects and future expressway projects is efficient, which will result in overall benefits for the country and the public who use the roads, resulting in greater convenience, safety, and saving time and travel expenses, as well as to ensure that the integration of innovation development, Single Command management, data linkage and traffic problem resolution on the road network is carried out carefully and efficiently, leading to tangible implementation, with the EXAT as the operator of the Ko h Samui expressway project. The study of engineering, economic, financial and environmental impact feasibility of the Koh Samui Expressway Project covers the following operations: (1) to study engineering, economic and financial feasibility; (2) to conduct a preliminary survey and design and design a detailed framework; (3) to study and prepare an environmental impact assessment report; (4) to study and analyze the suitability of private sector participation in the project; (5) to conduct a market sounding test of investor interest; (6) to prepare the essential framework of the proposal documents to invite private sector participation in investment and to draft contracts. When the study is completed and leads to the development of the project, it will be an alternative for road users to have convenience and safety in traveling to Koh Samui, including increasing the potential of transportation and increasing the efficiency of traveling to Koh Samui and promoting tourism even more. The Expressway Autho rity of Thailand has assigned a group of consultants, consisting of Asian Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd., M.A. Consultants Co., Ltd., Epsilon Co., Ltd., and Tesco Co., Ltd., to conduct the study from April 1, 2023 to March 15, 2026, with a study period of 36 months (1,080 days) and it is expected that construction will begin in 2029 and the service will open at the end of 2033. In the past, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) and the consulting group have conducted feasibility studies, determined alternative routes that are possible, compared the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative route, along with the implementation of public participation at the central, provincial, and local levels. They met with the Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the Deputy Governor of Surat Thani, the District Chief of Koh Samui, as well as other relevant agencies to introduce the project and listen to opinions and suggestions on the project implementation. In addition, they have examined the physical, environ mental, and legal limitations of the area to determine the alternative routes. They have identified 7 possible alternative routes in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces. Later, the first public hearing (project orientation) was held on August 8-10, 2023 in 3 areas, and the first sub-group meeting was held in 11 areas to listen to opinions, suggestions, and concerns in order to select the most suitable route for further study, survey, and design. From the consideration and comparison of physical and environmental limitations at the project starting point in Donsak District, Surat Thani Province, and Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, including the project end point on Koh Samui, By scoring based on 3 main factors: engineering and traffic, economics, finance and investment, environmental impact, and the process of hearing public opinions from various sectors, it was concluded that the most appropriate route selection score was Route 6, starting at Km. 4+900 of rural highway No. N.S. 4044 i n Tambon Thong Nian, Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, connecting to Koh Samui at the end of Thong Krut Beach, Km. 9+000 of Highway No. 4170 in Tambon Taling Ngam, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province, with a total distance of 25.04 kilometers. In addition, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has taken into account the benefits of connecting the expressway connecting Koh Samui with both Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces to facilitate convenient expressway connections and promote the development of expressway areas to cover them. Therefore, it has considered the possibility of constructing an access road connecting the expressway (Access Road) with a connection point at Km. 14+500 of Highway No. 4142 in Don Sak Subdistrict, Don Sak District, Surat Thani Province and connecting at Km. 35+700 of Highway No. 4142 in Khuan Thong Subdistrict, Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, with a distance of 11.80 kilometers. The access road connecting the expressway (Access Roa d) to Route 6, which is the most suitable alternative route for the Koh Samui Expressway, will have a total distance of approximately 37.32 kilometers with 2 entry and exit points: at Km. 35+700 of Highway No. 4142 in Khuan Thong Subdistrict, Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and at Km. 14+500 of Highway No. 4142 in Don Sak Subdistrict, Don Sak District, Surat Thani Province. This will result in people in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces, including road users, being able to use expressways more conveniently. For the initial design of the Koh Samui Expressway project, it will be a long bridge in the sea with a 4-lane road and connect to the Access Road, which is a ground-level road. It will be used to design the preliminary framework and study the environmental impact, including conducting public participation to listen to opinions in the next phase. Those interested in the project's news can follow the website www.samuibridge.com, the Facebook page of the Koh Samui Expressway Projec t, and inquire for more information via the Samui Bridge Line group. Source: Thai News Agency