Motorway M81 opens

[Big Boy]

I've been seeing news about this motorway for several years. Where is it please?

Motorway M81 opens for safer weekend travel to Southern Thailand

Motorists travelling to southern Thailand at weekends can now take the M81 motorway (Bang Yai–Kanchanaburi) without concerns over road accidents on the Rama II Highway.

The Department of Highways has announced the opening of motorway M81 to facilitate travel for those heading to the southern provinces, particularly on weekends.

This motorway provides access to several provinces, including Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Cha-am and Hua Hin districts. It is open from Friday at 3pm to Monday at 9am with no toll fees.

Three checkpoints allow access: Kanchanaburi checkpoint, West Nakhon Pathom checkpoint, and Bang Yai checkpoint. The motorway is restricted to four-wheel vehicles only, with a maximum speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour.

“The M81 route will help shorten travel times to popular tourist destinations such as Cha-am and Hua Hin, providing a fast, convenient, and safe journey,” the department stated.

“It is particularly suitable for those planning weekend trips or returning to their hometowns, especially during peak traffic on Phetkasem Road, Rama II Road, and other major highways.”

For further inquiries regarding motorway M81, contact the Department of Highways hotline at 1586, press 7, available 24 hours a day.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40050168

[Big Boy]

I searched M81 on Google Maps and it doesn't seem to come anywhere near to Hua Hin or Cha-Am. What am I missing? If anything, it seems to head diagonally towards the North.

[PeteC]

...and why oh why 80kph max?

[Big Boy]

I did wonder about that myself.

[Dannie Boy]

I searched M81 on Google Maps and it doesn't seem to come anywhere near to Hua Hin or Cha-Am. What am I missing? If anything, it seems to head diagonally towards the North.

This is what I found

[Big Boy]

Yes, that is what I saw (curves diagonally North). I don't really see it as too much of an advantage to Cha-Am or Hua Hin, apart from it being a way to avoid the Rama II death trap.

[caller]

It's been open for a while, from 1st May. Not sure if all the time, but certainly for public holidays. I am driving it back from Bkk tomorrow, well at least to J5. There is a whole web page dedicated to the road and it appears on google maps. In Bkk/Nonthaburi it starts at a junction with route 9.

https://www.motorway-m81.com/

[buksida]

Its for Bangkok weekend warriors to get to Kanchanaburi quicker without snarling up the 323.

[Big Boy]

I think if it goes to Kanchanaburi, mentioning travel to Southern Thailand, Cha-Am and Hua Hin is very misleading. I read that and was trying to think where I could join the road from Hua Hin. I was also trying to work out how they'd built a new motorway to Hua Hin without me noticing, and not seeing any signage.

Is this the motorway they said they'd build years ago to link to the Burmese deep water port beyond Kanchanaburi?

[Dannie Boy]

The link added by caller shows a dotted line link Intercity Motorway No. 8 (Nakhon Pathom - Cha Am), so maybe this is something for tomorrow (well maybe 10 years)?

[buksida]

I think if it goes to Kanchanaburi, mentioning travel to Southern Thailand, Cha-Am and Hua Hin is very misleading. I read that and was trying to think where I could join the road from Hua Hin. I was also trying to work out how they'd built a new motorway to Hua Hin without me noticing, and not seeing any signage.

It goes nowhere near Hua Hin ... more fake news from the Thai media, who'd a thunk it?

[Big Boy]

Actually, when I said I've been hearing about this motorway for years, it was alway being called Nakhon Pathom to Cha-Am, so maybe the author is sort of right.

I still think the headline is very misleading.

[buksida]

It still doesn't go anywhere near Cha-am or Petchaburi province - the motorway is BKK to Kanchanaburi, you have to go north on it if you want to go south if leaving the capital.

There is another large road development going on from Cha-am (Kaeng Krachan) to Ratchaburi on the 3510 - but this has been under construction for at least 8 years. We use it when riding from HH to Kanchanaburi as you can do the entire journey without going near 'hell's highway' (Petchkasem.)

[caller]

And what if you are travelling from North Bkk or even north of Bkk itself, to the south? Then this is a good route to take eventually leading you to route 4 well past Nakhon Pathom. Likewise the return trip. Obviously it's main purpose is to cut journey time & congestion to Kanchanaburi, or nearer to Bkk, Nakhon Pathom, but it can be utilised for trips to the south

Anyway, it appears it's only open at weekends for now, so that has meant a change in my plans today.

[Big Boy]

Yes, but wasn't this muted many years ago to a Burmese deep sea port (something like Dawai?)? I'm assuming it has to be the same road. Maybe the bit into Burma changed with the political situation.