Deputy transport minister says Koh Kaew Pier U-turn project in Phuket will be delivered by 2028
Thailand's deputy transport minister said a permanent U-turn project near Koh Kaew Pier on Phuket's Highway 402 is on track for completion by 2028 as part of a wider road upgrade plan.
Deputy Transport Minister Sornspech Boonyamanee on June 28 oversaw progress on plans to upgrade a key U-turn on Highway 402 near Koh Kaew Pier in Phuket, with the project expected to be completed and fully operational by 2028.
The project would convert a temporary U-turn near Ban Yi Teng into a permanent facility aimed at easing congestion, improving traffic flow and increasing road safety for residents and tourists.
Sornspech was joined during the inspection by Phuket Highway District Director Winai Koo-Mueang, Phuket Transport Chief Atcha Buachan and Phuket Marine Office Director Adul Ruekmul.
According to the source, the Department of Highways has proposed a budget of more than 600 million baht for fiscal year 2027 to address traffic problems along a 26-kilometer stretch of Highway 402. The plan includes road resurfacing, U-turn construction, drainage systems, sidewalks and traffic monitoring technology.
Initial funding from leftover fiscal 2026 allocations has already been approved for work at two U-turn points at kilometer markers 31 and 36, with contractors due to begin work soon.
If the broader budget is approved, seven more U-turns would be upgraded across Phuket, bringing the total number of improved U-turns to nine.
The Koh Kaew Pier U-turn is described as one of the most critical projects because of its role in reducing traffic choke points and supporting longer-term mobility on the island.
