Somboon Thienthammacha, deputy director for the road’s location and design, said Thailand had fallen behind compared with neighbouring countries where highway projects had been underway for years. Attempts to construct a main southern highway have been frustrated for the past two decades.

Locals living along the new route had proposed that it connect up with the existing national highway No 3510. The department dismissed the proposal, explaining that Highway 3510 had too many bends to serve the logistical aims of the new road.