An AC motor drive control device including: an inverter, having a plurality of switching elements subjected to on-off control, for converting a DC voltage to an AC voltage with a desired frequency to drive an AC motor; a motor opening contactor connected between the inverter and the AC motor; a switching operation beforehand detection unit for detecting a switching operation of the motor opening contactor prior to the contact or detach of main contacts and outputting a switching operation beforehand detection signal; and a control unit having an inverter control unit for performing the on-off control for the plurality of switching elements and switching control for the motor opening contactor, and controlling the inverter based on the switching operation beforehand detection signal.