Si Rat Expressway-Bangkok Outer Ring Road to start operation on Monday

BANGKOK, Aug 20 (TNA) -- Vice Minister of Transport Theerapong Rodprasert said that the Si Rat Expressway on the Bangkok Outer Ring Road, the new route set to help relieve traffic congestion in the capital city as it would help link Bangkok with the Thonburi side, bringing better conveniences for commuters. Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) Governor Narong Gieddech, meanwhile, said that construction of the expressway and the installation of the toll booths are 100 per cent completed and would be ready for its first operation on August 22. He said, after Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha official opened the expressway at 9am on August 22, after which commuters could begin using the expressway straight away, and by noon, the Si Rat Expressway would then be linked with other expressway system around the capital. EXAT is expecting that in the first year of operations, more than 80,000 commuters would pass through the tolls on Si Rat Expressway daily. The Si Rat-Bangkok Outer Ring Road expressway is designed to help relieve traffic congestion near the Mo Chit 2 bus terminals in crossing through Bangkok into the western side of the capital, which would provide easier connection for commuters to the Outer Ring Road at the outskirt of Bangkok. The new 6-lane expressway has a total distance of 16.7 kilometres. (END)