Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn chaired a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall this week to hear progress on the survey and design project, which he said aims to improve traffic flow into the province.
Also attending were Phuket Highway District Director Winai Kuemueang, representatives from the Department of Highways and project consultants.
Officials were told that the project covers a 2.27-kilometre section of Route 402 running south from Thepkrasattri Bridge through the Tha Chatchai mangrove area to the Phuket Check Point. The project does not include the coastal Highway 4302 road along Mai Khao Beach.
The route passes key locations including Tha Chatchai Police Station, Baan Tha Chatchai Mosque and Wat Tha Chatchai.
The Department of Highways is studying options to expand the road to four lanes or more in response to growing traffic volumes, with the aim of reducing congestion and improving the efficiency and safety of travel to and from Phuket.
The study began on Mar 24 and is scheduled to continue for 450 days, with completion expected on June 16, 2027.
The work includes engineering surveys, road and bridge design, drainage systems, intersection improvements and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
Consultants told the meeting that the project faces significant challenges because the route passes through mangrove forest and coastal areas requiring detailed environmental assessment.
The study area also includes environmentally sensitive zones and nearby communities in Tha Chatchai and Baan Tha Noon, as well as temples, schools, mosques and childcare centres whose interests must be considered during the design process.
Several preliminary options are under consideration, including a four-lane road with a raised median, a depressed median and an elevated structure.
Officials said the preferred design would be selected based on engineering feasibility, road safety, environmental impacts and benefits to local residents.
The Department of Highways and project consultants have scheduled five rounds of public consultation throughout the study period to gather feedback from residents, businesses, government agencies and community representatives before a final option is chosen.
The project forms part of Phuket’s long-term transport infrastructure plans aimed at supporting economic growth, tourism and improving access to and from the island.
Once the study and EIA process are completed and approved, the Department of Highways will seek funding for construction.
However, the proposal has already generated debate online, with some residents questioning whether widening the road would address the main cause of congestion at Phuket’s northern gateway.
One commenter argued that traffic delays are primarily caused by operations at the Phuket Check Point rather than by the capacity of the road itself.
"The problem is not at all the bridge or the traffic but the checkpoint itself," the commenter wrote.
The resident suggested reopening the second checkpoint facility at the site and separating incoming and outgoing traffic, noting that traffic generally flows freely across Sarasin Bridge and into Phang Nga, with queues typically forming only for vehicles entering Phuket through the checkpoint area.
Officials have not publicly responded to the suggestion as the study continues.