Traffic congestion remains one of Phuket’s top challenges affecting tourism.
In late February, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat revealed two key strategies to address the issue.
Expressway route to open by 2030
The governor revealed that a new expressway route has been approved by the government.
The route will connect Muang Mai to Koh Kaew, then extend to Kathu, and include a tunnel from Kathu to Patong Beach.
The project, with an estimated budget of 60 billion baht (S$2.37 billion), is expected to be completed by 2029 and operational by 2030. This infrastructure upgrade aims to ease traffic congestion and enhance tourism convenience.
“Currently, Phuket’s traffic congestion is frustrating for tourists. However, in the next 3–4 years, we expect smoother traffic flow,” said Governor Sophon.
AI-powered traffic management to reduce congestion by 30-40 per cent
Another key strategy involves implementing AI technology to manage Phuket’s entire traffic system, modeled after Singapore’s system.
The province has already surveyed intersections for camera installations and system integration, with the initiative expected to cut traffic congestion by 30-40 per cent under a 400-million-baht budget.
“The system will have a central control room acting as the brain, managing 85 intersections across Phuket. Cameras will feed data into the system, which will optimise traffic flow every 40 seconds to ensure smooth movement,” he explained.
Beyond easing congestion, the AI system will enhance safety by integrating with all 11 police stations and 18 local agencies, enabling real-time response to incidents. Phuket will be the first province in Thailand to implement this advanced traffic management system.
The AI-driven traffic management project is currently under study, with a Phuket team conducting research in Singapore.
Once finalised, the report will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for review. After four joint meetings, the project awaits government approval, which, if granted, will take around four months to implement.
Singapore’s model: a proven solution?
Between 2017 and 2022, Singapore projected an increase in daily trips from 9 million to 16 million vehicles, with estimates reaching 20 million by 2030. This surge risked overwhelming the city’s roads, making expansion inevitable—at a significant financial cost.
To tackle this, Singapore launched Smart Mobility 2030, spearheaded by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
AI technology became the backbone of this initiative, first introduced in 2006, ensuring efficient traffic flow without excessive infrastructure expansion.
Phuket now aims to replicate this success, leveraging AI to optimise intersections, reduce congestion, and enhance overall traffic efficiency and safety. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST’s Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.