The government of Thailand has approved two bridge projects worth a total of $175m in the south of the country, the Pattaya Mail reports.

One will be built across a lagoon known as Songkhla Lake on the east coast facing the Gulf of Thailand at a cost of $127m. The other will connect with Koh Lanta, an island in the western Andaman Sea, and has a price tag of $48m.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, had endorsed the schemes.

Work on both schemes will begin in September next year, with completion set for 2025.

The bridge across the Songkhla Lake will be 7km long and will reduce the time taken to drive between the provinces of Song Khla and Patthalung from two hours to 15 minutes.

The Koh Lanta project will cut the time required to travel from the province of Krabi from about two hours to two minutes. It will also facilitate the transport of patients from Koh Lanta to hospitals in Krabi and function as an evacuation route from the island in the event of disasters.