The Kathu to Patong Tunnel: What It Means for Phuket Residents and Property Buyers
The Kathu to Patong Tunnel: What It Means for Phuket Residents and Property Buyers
TL;DR
Phuket is getting an expressway. Phase 1 is a 3.98 km link from Kathu to Patong, including a 1.85 km tunnel through Khao Nak Kerd. When it opens, the trip from Kathu to Patong takes only five minutes.
Phase 2 adds 30.62 km from Muang Mai through Ko Kaeo to Kathu, giving the island a 34.60 km spine from the north down to the west coast.
Cabinet consideration of Phase 1 is expected in December 2026, with opening targeted for October 2031.
For the west coast it means Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Layan, Kamala and Patong all sit closer to each other and to the airport.
Phuket homes already total 705.055 billion baht across 90,597 units, with rental yields estimated at 6 to 8 percent.
There's good news for Phuket, and it's worth knowing early.
Plans for an expressway across the island have moved forward, and the piece everyone will feel first runs straight through the mountain between Kathu and Patong. The Thaiger reports a 3.98 km route built around a 1.85 km tunnel beneath Khao Nak Kerd. When it opens, the whole trip from Kathu to Patong will take only five minutes, a point Thai Rath confirms in its report on the government moving the project forward.
A trip of only five minutes to the beach road, any day of the week. That one change reshapes how the whole west coast fits together.
A Spine for the Whole Island
The tunnel is Phase 1. The EXAT project outline maps a second phase running 30.62 km from Muang Mai through Ko Kaeo to Kathu, with interchanges at Muang Mai, Ban Don, Manik and Bang Koo. Together the two phases form a 34.60 km spine from the north of the island down to the coast, designed with four lane twin tunnels in the Kathu section and two lanes set aside for motorcycles.
The Nation reports that EXAT plans to raise around 20 billion baht toward Phase 1 through an infrastructure fund, with Phase 2 construction targeted to begin in October 2028. Cabinet consideration of Phase 1 is expected in December 2026, and opening is targeted for October 2031.
What Opens Up for the West Coast
Picture the island once that spine is in place. Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Layan, Kamala and Patong all sit within easy reach of each other, and the airport sits close to all of them.
Your week gets simpler. The school run fits comfortably into the morning. Guests arrive from the airport without a long transfer, so they come more often and stay longer. Dinner on the other side of the coast becomes a decision you make at six rather than plan on Monday. You keep the quiet street you love and still have the island within reach.
That reach is the real gift here. When every part of Phuket connects to every other part, a home stops being tied to one corner of the map. Your choices widen.
The Opportunity Ahead
If you've been thinking about a home in Phuket, this is a good moment to start looking, because you get to choose while the island is still taking shape around you.
The market you'd be joining is substantial. The Nation reports a Phuket residential market worth 705.055 billion baht across 90,597 units, with 76,582 already sold and rental yields estimated at 6 to 8 percent. Resort homes account for about 52 percent of supply and close to 80 percent of the value, so the west coast holds the weight of the island.
The direction of travel is clear too. Thalang leads Phuket with 411 projects, ahead of Mueang Phuket with 281 and Kathu with 84, gathered around Cherng Talay and Bang Tao and moving steadily north. That is exactly the corridor Phase 2 runs through.
Areas that become easier to reach tend to attract more interest over time, and interest has a way of showing up in value. Buying now isn't a guess about that. It's a decision made with the route, the timeline and the funding already published, which is a far more comfortable position than acting on a rumour. You choose the home you want while the choice is wide, and the island grows into the plan around you.
Where SEA Property Comes In
SEA Property has been walking buyers around this coast for more than 27 years, from our office in Cherng Talay, right in the corridor this expressway is meant to serve. We know these neighbourhoods street by street, and we've watched the island grow through several chapters of its story.
So we'd sit with you and start with your life rather than a listing. How long do you want to keep this place? Is it for your own mornings, for rental income, or for your children one day? Where do the kids need to be at eight in the morning? What does a good Saturday look like for you here?
From there we'll show you the homes that fit, and handle the legal structure, the developer checks and the rental strategy so the whole thing feels straightforward. If you're looking at Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Layan, Kamala, Patong or Kathu, come and talk to us. We'll tell you exactly what we'd do with our own money.
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Explore Common Questions About this Blog
1. How long will the Kathu to Patong tunnel take to drive?
The trip will take only five minutes once the tunnel opens, according to The Thaiger and Thai Rath. The route runs 3.98 km in total, including a 1.85 km tunnel beneath Khao Nak Kerd.
2. When will the Phuket Expressway open?
Cabinet consideration of Phase 1 is expected in December 2026, with construction from October 2027 and opening targeted for October 2031, per The Thaiger. Phase 2 construction is targeted to begin in October 2028, as reported by The Nation.
3. What route will the Phuket Expressway follow?
The EXAT project outline sets out Phase 1 from Kathu to Patong and Phase 2 running 30.62 km from Muang Mai through Ko Kaeo to Kathu, with interchanges at Muang Mai, Ban Don, Manik and Bang Koo. Combined, the network measures 34.60 km.
4. How will the expressway affect west coast property in Phuket?
It brings Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Layan, Kamala and Patong closer to one another and to the airport side of the island. The Nation reports that resort homes make up about 52 percent of Phuket supply and close to 80 percent of its value, so easier access reaches the most established part of the market.
5. Is now a good time to buy property in Phuket?
The Nation reports a market of 705.055 billion baht across 90,597 units, with 76,582 sold and estimated yields of 6 to 8 percent, which points to steady demand. Monthly absorption runs at 5.2 percent, so there is time to choose carefully and pick a home that suits your plans.
