10 July 1958

New highway opens a gateway to Isan

The King opened the Friendship Highway to the northeast amid expectations that it would boost the economy of the impoverished Isan region.

The 147km road, linking Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima, reduced average driving time from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima from 10 hours to about three.

‘People have been saying America has been giving only military aid to Thailand, and some politicians even went so far as to say that the highway is built for landings and take-offs by warplanes,’ said Deputy Cooperative Minister Ari Tantivejjakul. ‘In fact, the highway makes it possible to send the products of the northeast to markets.’

Former Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram and the former US ambassador, Max Bishop, had earlier presided over the opening of the first section in February. Bishop said the highway’s benefits could be seen in the fresh produce on market stands in Bangkok. ‘It is no exaggeration to state that the area of the Friendship Highway is growing as fast as the builders move out the jungle and put down the road,’ he said.

10 July 1958

New highway opens a gateway to Isan

The King opened the Friendship Highway to the northeast amid expectations that it would boost the economy of the impoverished Isan region.

The 147km road, linking Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima, reduced average driving time from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima from 10 hours to about three.

‘People have been saying America has been giving only military aid to Thailand, and some politicians even went so far as to say that the highway is built for landings and take-offs by warplanes,’ said Deputy Cooperative Minister Ari Tantivejjakul. ‘In fact, the highway makes it possible to send the products of the northeast to markets.’

Former Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram and the former US ambassador, Max Bishop, had earlier presided over the opening of the first section in February. Bishop said the highway’s benefits could be seen in the fresh produce on market stands in Bangkok. ‘It is no exaggeration to state that the area of the Friendship Highway is growing as fast as the builders move out the jungle and put down the road,’ he said.