Second runway planned for U-Tapao airport

The U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport is setting the stage for a major transformation with the construction of its second runway slated to kick off this year. According to Chula Sukmanop, the secretary-general of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), efforts are underway to secure funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for this ambitious venture.

Italian-Thai Development (ITD) has been selected as the project’s contractor, says Mr. Chula. What’s more, this monumental undertaking is set to unfold in collaboration with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), according to EEC’s deputy secretary-general, Tharit Issarayangyun.

The new runway, stretching a whopping 3,505 metres, will be strategically situated 1,140 metres away from the current one. Designed to accommodate large aircraft and anticipated to manage at least 70 flights an hour, this addition is poised to significantly enhance the airport’s capacity. All in all, the project investment hovers around an impressive 15.2 billion baht, Mr. Tharit reveals.

However, amidst all this excitement, the EEC has raised eyebrows over the sluggish progress of another key infrastructure project: the high-speed railway connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. This high-speed rail system, which stands as a flagship EEC project, has already inked a contract with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Asia Era One, a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group. Negotiations are in full swing and are expected to wrap up by the end of this month.

Mr. Chula mentioned that the high-speed rail tunnel, which will meander under the new runway, has already seen its design finalized. The runway construction is projected to span 36 months, while the high-speed rail segment beneath it must wrap up within 18 months of the runway’s commencement, as stipulated in the contract between the RTN and ITD.

Mr. Tharit emphasized that if the high-speed train tunnel isn’t completed by early 2025, the EEC may propose cutting this segment from the joint venture with Asia Era One, passing the baton to the SRT to ensure the smooth continuation of the airport runway’s construction. “We’ve kept the SRT and Asia Era One in the loop. Everyone’s aware of the contingency plan,” Mr. Tharit assured.

Spanning approximately three to four kilometres, the high-speed rail tunnel segment transitioning under the runway and leading into the passenger terminal carries an estimated construction cost of around 10 billion baht.

On a related note, Weerawat Phantawangkul, the CEO of U-Tapao International Aviation, disclosed that comprehensive airport development plans are in the wings, slated to begin next year. Construction efforts, set to last at least five years, encompass three primary building projects over a sprawling 6,500-rai area, with an initial investment of no less than 100 billion baht earmarked for the first phase of this grand transformation.

With these colossal plans on the horizon, U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport is poised to redefine its role as a key aviation hub, beckoning brighter skies ahead. Buckle up; the journey is going to be exhilarating! 

* source https://thai.news/news/thailand/u-tapao-rayong-pattaya-airport-expansion-new-runway-construction-and-high-speed-rail-developments