Sukhumvit Road
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 (ทางหลวงแผ่นดินหมายเลข) National highway 3 |
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| Length (kilometres) | 400 |
|---|---|
| Direction | West - Southeast |
| Start | Bangkok |
| End | Trat |
| Asian Highway Network | AH 1 |
Sukhumvit Road (Thai: ถนน สุขุมวิท), or National Highway 3, is a major highway in Thailand, it is also a major surface road of Bangkok and other cities it winds thorough. It follows a coastal route from Bangkok (the capital) to Trat and is just over 400km in length.
Sukhumvit Road is named after the fifth chief of the Department of Highways, Phra Pisan Sukhumvit. It is one of the four major highways of Thailand, the other three being Phahonyothin highway (National Highway 1), Mittraphap Highway (National Highway 2) and Phetkasem highway (National Highway 4).
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[edit] Route
Sukhumvit Road begins in Bangkok, as a continuation of the Rama I and Phloenchit roads which span Pathum Wan district. Starting from where the boundaries of the districts of Khlong Toei, Pathum Wan and Watthana meet, it runs the entire length of the border between Khlong Toei and Watthana, then passes through Phra Khanong and Bang Na districts.
It then crosses the border between Bangkok and Samut Prakan Province and subsequently continues east through Chachoengsao Province, south through Chonburi Province, east through Rayong Province, south-east through Chanthaburi Province, and ends in the town of Trat, capital of Trat Province, about 100km short of the Hat Lek border crossing with Cambodia.
In Chonburi Province it passes through the towns of Chon Buri City, Laem Chabang, Bang Lamung township, Sri Racha, and Pattaya.
[edit] Bangkok
In the capital, Sukhumvit Road serves as a main commercial street, and this section is often congested, even at late evening hours. The Chalerm Mahanakhon Expressway has an exit at Soi 1. Ratchadaphisek Road crosses Sukhumvit at the Asok (Asoke) intersection.
The Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is easily accessible on the Skytrain Sukhumvit Line, which runs from Mo Chit through the Silom Line interchange at Siam Square up to On Nut on Soi (side-street) 81. The Bangkok Metro's Sukhumvit Station interchanges with the Skytrain at Asok.
The area between Sukhumvit Soi 1 and Sukhumvit Soi 63 is popular as residential area for western expatriates. Japanese nationals tend to prefer from Asok intersection upwards, especially Soi Thong Lo. Rentals tend to be higher in the even numbered streets between Soi 8 and Soi 28 and in the odd numbered streets between Soi 15 and Soi 39. Soi 12 is occupied mainly by Indian expatriates, see Phahurat.
The areas of Soi Cowboy (between Soi 21 Asok and Soi 23) and Nana Entertainment Plaza (Soi 4) are packed full of go-go bars. Restaurants of various levels of luxury exist all along the road, as well as hotels including famous names such as The Westin, JW Marriott and Sheraton. Also several shopping malls are found, like the upscale The Emporium shopping center. It also harbours the eastern bus station at Soi 63 Ekkamai.
Major sois off Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok:
| Soi number | Soi name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Nana Nuea (North Nana) | Opposite to Soi 4 Nana Tai (South Nana) |
| 21 | Asok | Part of the Ratchadaphisek (Silver Jubilee) inner ring road |
| 23 | Prasanmitr | Srinakharinwirot University campus at the end of the soi |
| 39 | Phrom Phong | |
| 55 | Thong Lor (Thong Lo) | Booming up-market residential and commercial strip; location of Pridi Banomyong Institute |
| 63 | Ekkamai | Opposite to Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal and Bangkok Science Center and Planetarium |
| 71 | Pridi Banomyong | Named after Statesman Pridi Banomyong, who ordered the road to be built |
| 77 | Onnut | Major road linking the city with its eastern suburb of Lat Krabang and Suvarnabhumi Airport |
| 103 | Udomsuk | |
| 105 | La Salle | |
| 107 | Bearing |
