Nai Harn Lake Reconstruction: Opening Plans for April 2027

Nai Harn Lake reconstruction in Phuket is ongoing: landscaping is about 70% complete, and municipal infrastructure works are 50% complete. Separate progress figures were published by Phuket’s state radio station. According to the local portal Rawai.com, the provincial administration plans to open the renovated area in Rawai on April 24, 2027.

These are different parts of the work: the provincial administration handles landscaping, while the municipality handles roads, drainage and related infrastructure. Therefore, the landscaping progress figure cannot be applied to the entire project.

For those planning to visit the lake, the key is to distinguish between construction timelines and opening to visitors. The planned ceremony date does not yet mean the area is open for walking. The municipality previously asked people to avoid the island in the lake and the surrounding area during construction.

What is known

Landscaping by the provincial administration is about 70%, while Rawai municipal works are about 50%, according to Phuket’s state radio station. These estimates refer to separate projects.

The Rawai.com portal reports that completion of the landscaping is expected by mid-March 2027, and the opening of the renovated area is planned for April 24, 2027. Celebration events are planned to begin at 16:00. This is the ceremony time, not the park’s permanent schedule.

Put simply, finishing the landscaping and opening the area to the public are separate stages. The lake and the neighboring Nai Harn Beach should also be kept distinct: the construction warning concerns the area by the lake.

Nai Harn Lake reconstruction: works and project history

The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) handles landscaping of public space for people of all ages. The municipal project, according to a report from Phuket’s state radio station, includes:

• asphalt surfacing;
• drainage pipes made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE);
• sidewalks and drainage wells;
• parking areas.

“The Phuket News” reported on separate municipal investments amounting to 70 million baht for roads and drainage. This is a separate budget; it cannot be added to the landscaping estimate or presented as the cost of a single contract.

The project described earlier with a length of 1,973 m, included a bicycle path, parking spaces and solar street lights. The length refers to the whole described project, not to an already finished bicycle path.

The earlier contract with Sasivarai Construction envisioned 66,600,000 baht and 515 days of work. According to a publication’s report on the reasons for the halt, the contractor offered a price 6 million baht lower than its competitors but later halted construction due to a shortage of funds.

The contract was terminated on April 8, 2025, after which the administration announced a new tender with a revised budget of about 74 million baht. The tender conditions described included an estimated cost of 73,994,975.03 baht and a duration of 518 days without an actual start date. These are historical tender terms, not a basis for expecting a new completion date.

Access to the island in the lake and the neighboring beach

Nai Harn Lake (Nai Harn Lake) — a separate freshwater body near the sea. The island is inside the lake, while Nai Harn Beach (Nai Harn Beach) — a neighboring site.

In the municipality’s previously published warning, residents and visitors were asked to avoid the island and the surrounding area. At that time, construction was expected to last until March 30, 2027.

This warning does not describe current access routes and does not report a closure of the beach. The map helps locate places, but does not show the current boundaries of construction restrictions.

What to do

If you plan a walk by the lake, keep the ongoing works in mind. Based on the municipality’s earlier warning, it is best to avoid the island and the adjacent construction area.

Before your visit, check the latest announcements from the Rawai municipality and the Phuket Provincial Administration. On site, follow the barriers and instructions: opening plans alone do not confirm that the area will be accessible before the ceremony.

If you need a different route, consider other sights in Phuket. For a seaside break, go by the beach’s own visiting conditions, kept separate from the construction status at the lake.

Essentials for planning: completion of the landscaping is expected in March, and the opening in April. These plans may change.