Upgraded section in Nan opens

The Department of Highways (DOH) has officially opened the upgraded section of Highway No. 101 in Nan, completing a major infrastructure project that will boost border connectivity, support economic growth, and establish trade and tourism links with Laos.

The Ban Pon–Chalerm Phrakiat section spans more than 33.8 kilometres. The route is expected to improve travel convenience, reduce journey times, and enhance road safety while accommodating growing volumes of traffic, freight transport, and cross-border economic activity. The project covers areas in Thung Chang and Chalerm Phrakiat districts of Nan. It forms part of broader efforts to upgrade transport infrastructure in the upper North and improve access to border areas.

Highway No. 101, the department says, serves as a strategic corridor linking Nan to the Huai Kon permanent border checkpoint in Chalerm Phrakiat district, a major gateway for trade with Laos. The route also provides connections to Laos’ Xayaboury, Luang Prabang, and Oudomxay provinces, supporting cross-border trade, investment, logistics, and tourism.

Before the upgrade, the highway followed a winding mountainous alignment with narrow roadways and safety limitations. The department reconstructed and expanded the route to meet Class 1 highway standards, featuring two traffic lanes with asphalt concrete pavement, 3.5-metre-wide lanes, and 2.5m-wide paved shoulders on both sides.