The Thai highway network follows the left-hand traffic rule of the road. The network is the twin responsibility of the Department of Highways (DOH, Thai: กรมทางหลวง, Krom Thang Luang), and the Department of Rural Roads (DORR, กรมทางหลวงชนบท, Krom Thang Luang Chonnabot), under the oversight of the Transportation ministry of Thailand. Public highways (ทางหลวง, thang luang) are also called public roads (ถนนหลวง, thanon luang), especially when part of urban streets. The network spans over 70,000 kilometers across all regions of Thailand.[1]
Most are single carriageways. Dual carriageways have frequent u-turn lanes and intersections slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for a limited-access motorway, the Thai Government issued a Cabinet resolution in 1997 detailing the motorway construction master plan.[2] Some upgraded sections of highway are being turned into a "motorway", while other motorways are not being built from highway sections.
Types of highways
The 1992 Highway Act (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติทางหลวง พ.ศ. 2535), revised as the 2006 Highway Act (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติทางหลวง (ฉบับที่ 2) พ.ศ. 2549), defines the following five highway types:[3]
A special highway (Thai: ทางหลวงพิเศษ) or motorway is a high capacity highway designed for high speed traffic, for which the Department of Highways carries out construction, expansion, upkeep and repairs, and is registered as such. Motorway entrances and exits have controlled access, and controlled by the DOH. Registration of motorways is overseen by the Director General of the DOH.
A national highway (Thai: ทางหลวงแผ่นดิน) is a primary highway, part of the network connecting regions, provinces, districts, and other important destinations, for which the DOH carries out construction, expansion, upkeep and repairs. Registration of national highways is overseen by the Director General of the DOH.
A rural highway (Thai: ทางหลวงชนบท) or rural road is a highway for which the Department of Rural Roads carries out construction, expansion, upkeep and repairs. Registration of rural highways is overseen by the Director General of the DORR.
A local highway (Thai: ทางหลวงท้องถิ่น) or local route is a highway for which the local administrative organization carries out construction, expansion, upkeep and repairs. Registration of rural highways is overseen by the provincial governor.
A concession highway (Thai: ทางหลวงสัมปทาน) is a highway for which a legal government concession has been granted. Registration of concession highways is overseen by the Director General of the DOH.
Highway numbering
The first digit of a highway number indicates the region of Thailand it serves, with the number of digits indicating the highway classification.[4] These regions are:
Two digits indicate a principal highway within a region, such as Route 22 in the northeast between Udon Thani and Nakhon Phanom.[4]
Three digits indicate a regional secondary highway, such as northeastern Route 202 between Chaiyaphum and Khemarat, and central Route 314 between Bang Pakong and Cha Choeng Sao.[4]
Four digits indicate an intra-province highway connecting a provincial capital to its districts, or between important sites, such as northern Route 1001 between the Route 11 intersection and Amphoe Phrao, and southern Route 4006 between the Route 4 intersection (Ratchakrut) and Lang Suan.[4]
Highways by region
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Route 340: Motorway 9/Route 345, Bang Bua Thong (Nonthaburi Province) – Route 1, Mueang Chai Nat (Chai Nat Province); became a portion of Route 37, now a portion of Motorway 9
Route 3023 (Tha Ruea–Tha Lan Road): Tha Lan – Tha Luea, designation decommissioned
Route 3024: Route 205, Ban Mi – Khao Chong Lom
Route 3027: Tha Wung - Ban Berk
Route 3028: Bang Nga - Ban Mee
Route 3029: Highway 1 (Khao Phra Ngam) to a military district; now local road 7-0002
Route 3030: Dong Makhamthet - Bang Rachan
Route 3031: Sing Buri – In Buri District, designation decommissioned
Route 3032: Mueang Sing Buri - Doem Bang Nang Buat
Route 3033: Bang Nga - Pokhawiwat
Route 3034: Na Phra Lan - Baan Krua
Route 3035: Route 321, Kamphaeng Saen District – Bang Len District – Lat Lum Kaeo District, combined with Route 3035 and Route 3194; now part of Route 346 except for a section in Pathum Thani Province that is still Route 3035
Route 3095: Nakhon Pathom to Royal Thai Army animal department control area, downgraded to local road
Route 3096: Rachamankha - Sanam Chan, downgraded to local road
Route 3097: Route 4, Phra Prathon – Route 35 (Ban Bo), now part of Route 375
Route 3098: Entrance to Sam Phran, downgraded to local road
Route 3099 (Nonthaburi Road 1, Sanambinnam Road): Route 306 – Pak Kret Airport, absorbed into Route 3110; now part of local highway 2-0017
Route 3100: Route 346, Rangsit – Rangsit Canal (Pathum Thani Province), now part of Route 345
Route 3101(Sihaburanukit Road): Entrance to Min Buri (Bangkok), downgraded to local road
Route 3102 (Sanphawut Road): Bang Na – Route 3109 (Bangkok)
Route 3103 (Wongsawang Road): Bang Hid - Rama VI - Wat Thong Thong (Bangkok), downgraded to local road
Route 3104 (Nakorn Khuean Khan Road): Entrance to Phra Pradaeng, downgraded to local road
Route 3105: Entrance to Phra Samut Chedi, downgraded to local road
Route 3106: Pracharat 1 (Bangkok), downgraded to local road
Route 3107: Phra Khanong intersection (Highway 3)- Khlong Tan - Bang Kap, downgraded to local road
Route 3108: Sutthisan - Huai Khwang - Din Daeng, downgraded to local road
Route 3109 (Old Paknum Railway Road): Khlong Toei – Route 3, downgraded to local road
Route 3110 (Nonthaburi Road 1, Sanambinnam Road): Leam Rim Nam Municipality - Bang Kraso (Nonthaburi Province), combined with Route 3099; later redesignated as local highway 2-0017
Route 3111: Route 307/Route 3035, Pathum Thani Province – Route 3263, Sena District
Route 3112: Pathum Thani - Lat Lum Kaeo, combined with Route 3035; much of route now part of Route 346 except for the section from route origin to the Pathum Thani Provincial Administration Office which is still Route 3035
Route 3120 (Samphan Road): Lam Phak Chi - Nong Chok, downgraded to local road
Route 3121: Bangkhla - Plaeng Yao
Route 3122 (Ban Pho - Don Si Non Road, Don Si Non - Ban Pho Road): Don Si Non - Ban Pho; partially replaced by Highway 3304 and remainder downgraded to local road
Route 3123: Bangkhla – Bang Nam Priao (Chachoengsao Province), designation decommissioned
Route 3125: Bangpakong Intersection (Chachoengsao Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3129: Junction to Bang Phra Reservoir (Chonburi Province), now local road 24-007
Route 3130: Bang Pla Soi Intersection (Chonburi Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3131: Chonburi – Khao Bang Sai Temple (Chonburi Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3132 (Pattaya-Naklua Road): Route 3 – Banglamung District (Chonburi Province), now local road 2-0008
Route 3133: Chonburi – Klaeng District (Chonburi Province), much of route now part of Highway 344; remainder now local highway 4-0002, rural route 3059, Highway 3289, local highway 1-0703 and a local route
Route 3134 (Ang Sila Road): Ang Sila Intersection - Khao Sam Muk (Chonburi Province)
Route 3135 (Pattaya-Naklua Road, One Pattaya Road, South Pattaya Road): Na Kluea Market – South Pattaya (Chonburi Province), downgraded to local highways 2-0008, 2-0005 and 2-0007
Route 3136 (North Pattaya Road): Route 3 – North Pattaya (Chonburi Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3137: area of Bang Saen resort; downgraded to local road
Route 3138: Ban Bueng - Mappu
Route 3139: Ban Lang - Hat Yai
Route 3140: Entrance to Ban Phe
Route 3141: Junction to U-Tapao, designation decommissioned
Route 3142: Taphong Nok - Ban Laeng, now local road 1-0014
Route 3143: Ban Khai - Nong Lalok
Route 3144: Entrance to Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Route 3145: Ban Phe - Laem Mae Phim (Rayong Province)
Route 3146 (Tha Chalab Road): edge of Chanthaburi to Tha Chalab, downgraded to local roads
Route 3147 (Si Bunruang Road): Hua Hin – Tha Mai (Chanthaburi Province), downgraded to local roads
Route 3148: Trat-Laem Ngop
Route 3149:
Route 3150 (Tha Luang Road): Route 3 (Koh Rong) – Rin Nam Chanthaburi, downgraded to local roads
Route 3151: Route 3149 (Nong Chim) – Perid Island, one section now rural route 4001 and the remainder downgraded to local road
Route 3152:
Route 3153 (Phraya Trang Road): Chanthaburi – Tha Mai
Route 3154 (Trirat Road): Trirat Bridge – Route 3 (Ploy Siam), downgraded to local road
Route 3155:
Route 3156:
Route 3157:
Route 3158:
Route 3159:
Route 3160: Tha Mi Park – Bang Kradan, now part of Route 3156
Route 3161: Route 3 – Ao Kai Intersection (Rayong Province), now local highway 1-0042
Route 3162: Junction to Pak Nam Prasae (Rayong Province), now local highway 10-018, 1-0032, and rural route 4036
Route 3163:
Route 3164:
Route 3165:
Route 3166:
Route 3167:
Route 3168:
Route 3169:
Route 3170:
Route 3171:
Route 3172: Junction to Khao Yoi Railway Station (Phetchaburi Province), designation decommissioned
Route 3173:
Route 3174:
Route 3175:
Route 3176:
Route 3177:
Route 3178:
Route 3179:
Route 3180:
Route 3181: Entrance to Tha Sae Market
Route 3182: Route 3077 (Nong Khing) – Khao Khiao (Nakhon Nayok Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3183:
Route 3184:
Route 3185 (Lat Phrao Road): Bang Sue – Bang Kapi (Bangkok), redesignated as Route 336; now a local road
Route 3186:
Route 3187:
Route 3188 (Phran Nok Road): Fai Chai Junction – Phran Nok Junction (Bangkok), downgraded to local road
Route 3189:
Route 3190:
Route 3191:
Route 3192:
Route 3193:
Route 3194: Phanom Thuan District - Phra Thaen Dong Rang - Kamphaeng Saen District, now part of Route 346
Route 3195: Suphan Buri - Pa Ngio
Route 3196:
Route 3197: Highway 33 (Huai Chot) – Bo Ning Ching (Sa Kheo Province), now rural road 66-001
Route 3347: Phanom Sarakham - Ban Sang, now part of Route 3076
Route 3348:
Route 3349:
Route 3350:
Route 3351
Route 3352:
Route 3353:
Route 3354
Route 3355:
Route 3356
Route 3357:
Route 3358:
Route 3359:
Route 3360:
Route 3361: Dan Makham Tia - Nong Pak Dong, designation decommissioned
Route 3362:
Route 3363:
Route 3364:
Route 3365:
Route 3366:
Route 3367:
Route 3368:
Route 3369:
Route 3370: Route 3247 (Khao Hom) – Route 3193 (Ban Pa), downgraded to local road
Route 3371: Route 3143 – Route 3191 (Rayong Province), now local road 1-0063
Route 3372:
Route 3373
Route 3374:
Route 3375:
Route 3376
Route 3377: Route 3 (Khao Din) – Nong Samet (Rayong Province), now local roads 10-017 and 1-0036
Route 3378:
Route 3379: Route 3068 (Aranyaprathet) – Pa Rai (Sa Kaeo Province), combined with Route 3397, now part of rural route SS 3085
Route 3380: Route 3068 (Nong Yak) – Route 3381 (Ang Sila), downgraded to local road
Route 3381: Route 3068 (Nong Waeng) – Pa Rai (Sa Kaeo Province), one section became part of Route 3397, now rural route SS 3085; other section became Route 348, now rural route SK 3086
Route 3382: Route 3068 (Khok Phrek) – Khok Rek, now rural road SK 3069
Route 3383: Route 3367 (Khao Noi) – Route 3384 (Sai Sing), now part of Route 3366 and Route 3067
Route 3384:
Route 3385:
Route 3386:
Route 3387:
Route 3388:
Route 3389:
Route 3390:
Route 3391:
Route 3392: Route 3 (Huai Pong) – Nong Fae Intersection (Rayong Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3393: Route 3198 (Chong Kum) – Route 348 (Kaew Petch), now part of Route 3395
Route 3394
Route 3395:
Route 3396: Route 1 – Chao Phraya River (Nakhon Sawan Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3397: Route 3068 (Na Ngam) – Route 3381 (Khok Sung), combined with Routes 3379 and 3381 and redesignated Route 348; now rural route 3085
Route 3398:
Route 3399: Route 3 (Nong Si Nga) – Laem Sadet (Chanthaburi Province), now rural routes 1036 and 4001
Route 3400:
Route 3401:
Route 3402:
Route 3403:
Route 3404:
Route 3405:
Route 3406: Route 3 (Na Yai Am) – Nong Chek Soi (Chanthaburi Province), downgraded to local road
Route 3407: Route 3 (Nong Khla) – Tapong (Chanthaburi Province), downgraded to local road
Highway 418: Nongchik-Yala Highway (Ban Khlong Khut - Ban Thasap)
Highway 419: Trang Ring Road
Highway 420: Surat Thani Ring Road
Highway 421: Satun Bypass Road
Highway 425: East Hat Yai Bypass Road (under construction)
Highway 4001:
Highway 4002:
Highway 4003:
Highway 4004: Ranong - Paknam; downgraded to local road
Highway 4005:
Highway 4006: Ratchakrut - Lang Suan
Highway 4007: Junction to Don Nok Airport; downgraded to local road
Highway 4008:
Highway 4009:
Highway 4010:
Highway 4011:
Highway 4012: a short route between Ban Tha Pae and Nakhon Si Thammarat Town; now part of Highway 401. Highway 4012 was rerouted east of Fort Vachirawut
Highway 4013:
Highway 4014:
Highway 4015:
Highway 4016:
Highway 4017: Nakhon Si Thammarat - Ranot; now part of Highway 408
Highway 4357: Entrance to Krue Se Mosque; former portion of Highway 42
Highway 4358: Entrance to Buecho (Yaring)
Highway 4359: Entrance to Bang Pu (Yaring)
Highway 4363: Khoyae - Kato; former portion of Highway 410 (Yala)
Highway 4364: Entrance to Ban Buketa; former portion of Highway 4057
Highway 4368: Kayukhla - Bueloh; former portion of Highway 4057 (Narathiwat)
Highway 4369: Entrance to 2nd Sadao Border Checkpoint (under construction)
Highway 4370: A short-routed highway in Ban Pakbang, Songkhla; former portion of Highway 4086
Highway 4371: Sam Yaek - Yong Star; former portion of Highway 404
Highway 4372:
Highway 4373:
Department of Highway signage
Route number signs
DOH signs for public highways (ทางหลวง, thang luang) are white squares with a black garuda (ครุฑ khrut) centered above the route number.
Signs near the beginning of a route may display the highway's name on a white rectangle above or below the square.
Highways bypassing city centres bear the principal route number marked "Bypass" in Thai (เลี่ยงเมือง), and sometimes also in English.
Department of Rural Roads
DORR rural roads do not follow the regional numbering scheme, above.
Signs may be black-on-white or gold-on-blue, with a two-letter province designation prefixed to the road number. Depicted is SK. 3015, for a rural road in Songkhla Province. The rural road network measures some 35,000 kilometres (22,000 mi), about 82 percent of which is paved. The Department of Rural Roads of the Ministry of Transport takes care of the maintenance of all the rural roads in Thailand.[5]
Lak or Lakhkilomet (หลักกิโลเมตร) single-carriageway kilometer stone facings display the route number on the outline of a garuda. Some kilometer stones also display the route number on top. Those located to the left of the carriageway display kilometers remaining to the road's beginning at kilometer 0. As seen on the right from the opposite lane, the kilometer stones ascend in value as one proceeds away from kilometer 0. On edges facing traffic, DOH kilometer stones usually show distances remaining to the next two towns, (amphoe seats, or provincialcapitals.) Some edges, such as the one depicted to the left, have retroreflector panels. Dual carriageway kilometer stones or posts in the median strip show only the kilometer number.
DORR milestones show the kilometer number, and the edges may show distances remaining to the next two villages.
Older roads built by the Ministry of the Interior Public Works Department (กรมโยธาธิการ กระทรวงมหาดไทย) have only departmental insignia and kilometer number and do not show distances on their edges.
This type of kilometer stone is sometimes found on older rural highways built during a period of rural development several decades ago. They are marked with the Thai characters รพช, an abbreviation for Rengrat Pattana Chonabot (Thai: เร่งรัดพัฒนาชนบท) which, roughly translated, means "Rapid Rural Development".
^ abcde"ระบบหมายเลขทางหลวง". Department of Highways website. Department of Highways. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
Asian / ASEAN Highway Route Marker (21MB) Department of Highways Thai-language 18-page file, with 1 index and 8 regional maps of AH system overlaid on existing Thai national highways, plus diagrams of AH route markers. Retrieved 2008-10-14.[dead link]