Phuket Opinion: One way, or the other

[webfact]

Phuket Opinion: One way, or the other

By The Phuket News

 

A truck sits jacknifed in the entrance to the Darasamut Underpass last week after crashing with no other vehicle involved does not bode well for the safety of the now-opened Chalong Underpass. Photo: Supplied

 

PHUKET: The opening of the Chalong Underpass this weekend will serve as a form of victory for local officials involved in its construction. The beleaguered project has suffered an unending series of setbacks since the initial contract for works to begin came into effect on July 28, 2015 – today, an auspicious day for the nation.

 

Work on the underpass itself began only after nearly a year delay in having power lines, communications cables and pylons moved to make way for the construction, followed by more delays in acquiring the requisite land needed for the project.

 

The delays embittered many local residents and business owners, especially those in Rawai, to the extent that former Phuket Democrat MP Raywat Areerob along with Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol confronted Norraphat Plodthong, the Phuket Governor at the time, at the Governor’s House in Phuket Town on Jan 18 last year to file a formal complaint.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-opinion-one-way-or-the-other-71632.php#R5eYdAxm6L36LAQI.99 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2019-06-03

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[harada]

Wet roads and idiots don't mix. 

[Old Croc]

The design, the money and the time spent to end up with just a single lane tunnel highlights the idiocy and self serving of many charged with building major projects in Phuket, and indeed Thailand. Obviously an overpass would have been the answer to funneling traffic past this choke point. (Suggested bypass roads off Patak weren't even a consideration)

However, as we are stuck with the tunnel as is, and it will work better than the previous chaotic circle, it needs to be accepted for the advantages it brings.

On roads everywhere in Thailand oncoming traffic is separated by just a line drawn down the middle, and this is just another 330 meters of such. Thai vehicles will occasionally crash into each other, as they do. Being in a tunnel will cause extra difficulties when crashes occur. At least bikes will be largely out of the equation. 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Old Croc

[pattayadgw]

BEFORE OPENING.... the new Chalong underpass is 10 years out of date!! 

[madmitch]

To end up with a single lane underpass in one direction after four years of traffic chaos would be a massive failure by everyone involved in this project and heads should roll.

 

I remember a number of people on TV when this was announced stating that there possibly wasn't enough room to make a satisfactory underpass. Maybe Phuket's traffic planners, if such positions exist, should start reading thaivisa before going ahead with projects!!????

 

They've got to get this working properly, surely. Certainly some more permanent lane divider. Ban trucks and buses, maybe, perhaps even in one direction? 20kph speed limit enforced by cameras? All of the above?

 

The Phuket News seem to have the attitude that it's better than nothing. Well that shouldn't be the case. That's not what the public have expected and that's not what several hundred million baht has been spent on.

[eezergood]

2 hours ago, madmitch said:

To end up with a single lane underpass in one direction after four years of traffic chaos would be a massive failure by everyone involved in this project and heads should roll.

 

I remember a number of people on TV when this was announced stating that there possibly wasn't enough room to make a satisfactory underpass. Maybe Phuket's traffic planners, if such positions exist, should start reading thaivisa before going ahead with projects!!????

 

They've got to get this working properly, surely. Certainly some more permanent lane divider. Ban trucks and buses, maybe, perhaps even in one direction? 20kph speed limit enforced by cameras? All of the above?

 

The Phuket News seem to have the attitude that it's better than nothing. Well that shouldn't be the case. That's not what the public have expected and that's not what several hundred million baht has been spent on.

exactly!

 

[Oziex1]

The Mercedes S Class Tunnel.