The Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway (), also known as the First Stage Expressway System (), is an expressway in Thailand, located in Bangkok. It is the first expressway to be opened in the country and is 27.1 kilometres in length. The expressway has played an important role in alleviating ground-level road traffic in Bangkok. The expressway is a controlled-access toll road.
Rama IX Bridge, is part of the Tha Ruea–Dao Khanong expressway section.
History Due to a significant increase in road traffic in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, an expressway system was proposed in order to alleviate the heavy ground-level road traffic and in preparation for the predicted increase in car usage. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) was tasked to construct Thailand's first expressway in 1978 to connect three main highways leading out of Bangkok to the outlying provinces. This was Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to the north, Debaratna Road to the east and Rama II Road (Thonburi - Pak Tho Road) to the south. A total of 8.51 billion baht was invested in the project, with mainly government funding and some funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The first section between Din Daeng–Tha Ruea was completed and unofficially opened on 29 October 1981. It was officially opened on 4 January 1982. Its northern end terminated at Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Din Daeng district and its southern end terminated at Tha Ruea (Port) Junction near Bangkok Port in Khlong Toei district. The second section between Tha Ruea–Bang Na was opened on 17 January 1983 and connected Tha Ruea Junction to Debaratna Road in Bang Na district. The third section between Tha Ruea–Dao Khanong was opened on 5 December 1987 and connected Tha Ruea Junction to Rama II Road in Chom Thong district.
Due to increased road traffic on the expressway, Rama IX Bridge was expanded in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2023.
According to an official EXAT annual report, the expressway was used by 104,765,797 cars in the 2022 fiscal year, with an average of 302,791 cars per day.
On 15 March 2025, a section of the bridge outbound to Rama II Road was collapsed after concrete beam for new expressway bridge which is still under construction at a time and build on the top of the existing expressway crashing down, which resulted of the bridge section under it fall to the ground.
The collapse ended up with 7 killed, 16 injured and 30 missing as a result. Expressway's car traffic for both inbound and outbound between Rama II Road and Suksawat Road are immediately disrupted from the incident. EXAT announced temporary closure of the section and provide alternative routes until further notices shortly after. The collapsed section of the expressway outbound was repaired and already opened to the public on 5th of the April.
Route
Kilometre 0 is counted at Din Daeng Interchange.
Chaloem Maha Nakhon ExpresswayDin Daeng – Tha RueaLocationkmNorthboundFacilitySouthboundExit destinations (road)Toll Plaza (Entry)EnglishThaiToll Plaza (Entry)Exit destinations (road)Bangkok0.00Sutthisan, Don Mueang (Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) -Din Daeng InterchangeแยกดินแดงDin Daeng -Don Mueang International Airport, Rangsit (Uttaraphimuk Elevated Tollway)Din Daeng 12.20Eastbound - Asok, Phra Ram 9, Suvarnabhumi Airport ( Si Rat Expressway) -Makkasan Junctionต่างระดับมักกะสัน -Westbound - Victory Monument, Chaeng Watthana, Dao Khanong ( Si Rat Expressway)3.70Pratunam Intersection, Asok-Phetchaburi Intersection (Phetchaburi Road) -Phetchaburi Interchangeแยกทางด่วนเพชรบุรีPhetchaburino exit4.45 -SukhumvitPhloen Chit Interchangeแยกทางด่วนเพลินจิต -North Phloen Chit, Nana, Asok Montri Intersection ( Sukhumvit Road)South Phloen Chit, Lumphini Park (Duang Phithak Road)6.65Lumphini (Rama IV Road)Phra Ram 4-2Phra Ram 4 Interchangeแยกทางด่วนพระราม 4Phra Ram 4-1Khlong Toei (Rama IV Road)7.40Eastbound - Tha Ruea – Bang Na section -Tha Ruea Junctionต่างระดับท่าเรือ -Westbound - Tha Ruea – Dao Khanong sectionTha Ruea – Bang NaLocationkmEastboundFacilityWestboundExit destinations (road)Toll Plaza (Entry)EnglishThaiToll Plaza (Entry)Exit destinations (road)Bangkok7.40Northbound - Din Daeng – Tha Ruea section -Tha Ruea Junctionต่างระดับท่าเรือ -Westbound - Tha Ruea – Dao Khanong section10.75Sunlakakorn Intersection (Kasem Rat Road)Tha Ruea 2Tha Ruea Interchangeแยกทางด่วนท่าเรือTha Ruea 1Bangkok Port (Kasem Rat Road)12.30At Narong Intersection, Kluai Nam Thai Intersection (At Narong Road) -At Narong Interchangeแยกทางด่วนอาจณรงค์At Narong -14.25Eastbound - Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bang Phli, Chonburi ( S1 Expressway)At Narong 1 (from Chalong Rat)At Narong Junctionต่างระดับอาจณรงค์At Narong 2 (to Chalong Rat)Northbound - Khlong Tan, Phra Ram 9, Ram-inthra ( Chalong Rat Expressway)At Narong 315.25Bang Chak (Sukhumvit 62 Road) -Sukhumvit 62 Interchangeแยกทางด่วนสุขุมวิท 62Sukhumvit 62 -17.95Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bang Phli, Chonburi ( Debaratna Road) -Bang Na InterchangeแยกบางนาBang Chak (from S1) -Samrong, Samut Prakan, Chonburi ( Sukhumvit Road) -Bang NaTha Ruea – Dao KhanongLocationkmEastboundFacilityWestboundExit destinations (road)Toll Plaza (Entry)EnglishThaiToll Plaza (Entry)Exit destinations (road)Bangkok7.40Eastbound - Tha Ruea – Bang Na section -Tha Ruea Junctionต่างระดับท่าเรือ -Northbound - Din Daeng – Tha Ruea section10.50 -Liap Mae NamMae Nam Interchangeแยกทางด่วนเเม่น้ำ -Chong Nonsi, Nang Linchi Road (Rama III Road)12.60Chan Road, Nang Linchi Road (Sathu Pradit Road)Sathu Pradit 1Sathu Pradit Interchangeแยกทางด่วนสาธุประดิษฐ์ - -13.55Northbound - Si Lom, Chaeng Watthana ( Si Rat Expressway) -Bang Khlo Junctionต่างระดับบางโคล่Sathu Pradit 2 -14.97Rama IX Bridge16.55Bang Pakok (Suk Sawat Road)Suk SawatSuk Sawat Interchangeแยกทางด่วนสุขสวัสดิ์ -Phra Pradaeng (Suk Sawat Road)20.55 -Dao KhanongDao Khanong Interchangeแยกดาวคะนอง -Dao Khanong, Samut Sakhon (Rama II Road)Bang Pakaeo Intersection (Rama II Road)
See also Controlled-access highways in Thailand Expressway Authority of Thailand
References