The Express Authority of Thailand (Exat) held the first public hearing for its plan to build a 20-kilometre bridge linking the mainland to Koh Samui, with construction due to start in 2028.
According to Exat, the hearing will be held in three areas that are expected to be impacted by the project: Nakhon Si Thammarat (Tuesday), Surat Thani (Wednesday) and Koh Samui (Thursday).
They were selected as the project will link Koh Samui to either Surat Thani's Don Sak district or Nakhon Si Thammarat's Khanom district.
The hearings focus on the suitability of the project, engineering and the financial and environmental impact.
A bridge connecting the resort island with the mainland in Don Sak district would provide an overland transportation option in addition to air and ferry links, which are currently the only modes of travel to and from the island.
The bridge is also expected to reduce the time needed to attend to health emergencies on the island, Exat said.
It is expected to cost around 33.9 billion baht. Some 31.4 billion baht will be invested in construction, with the rest for acquiring land.
An impact study will take 24 months, from this April to October 2025, Exat said.
