Bangkok Streets to Undergo Significant Improvements

[J Branche]

So trying to get things ready for Formula 1 to visit and see if the streets are up to standards.

 

Maybe like Theppasit here in Pattaya it will start to crumble after 2 months.

 

The roads in Pattaya are bad after drain pipe install because either base layer is not correct material and compacted correctly or pipe may have a leak causing a cave in due to the material washing through the separated area.  

 

That is what an inspector is suppose to due perform inspection of the progress at different usually critical points to prevent potential premature failure of the repair.

[Frankie baby]

Their never seems to be any consultants who make sure the job you've paid for is done correctly. Hence its just left up to the contractor to do it as they seem fit, and of course that's usually the cheapest option. Thats why the buildings, pavements & roadworks etc. don't last long before they need re-doing.  

[owl sees all]

What a lot of nonsense! What a waste of money! Have these people never heard of Klimate Change?

In just a decade, Bangkok could be under water. Not all of it of course. Those living on the second floor and higher will be safe. But they have to get about. Do they not?

 

Better to invest the spare dosh in boats rafts and canoes. On another serious point. Why not lift up all the vulnerable buildings; say 3 metres? Like they do up here in the Isaan villages.

 

Also build a causeway between Pattaya and Hua Hin. Making sure those Chinese subs are on the right side of the construction, before the pumping begins.

 

Have to think more in a futuristic way in Thailand.

[Nickcage49]

I can't tell you how many times I could have ended up in a hole in the street. The sidewalks there are a mess.

[tomazbodner]

Bangkok pavements are actually good. I know this will trigger many, but go say to The Mall Ngamwongwan, and walk from there back towards Bangkok. You'll know immediately when you left Nonthaburi and reached Bangkok. Obviously they are far from perfect, but compared to neighbouring province... it's day and night difference.

[ricklev]

3 hours ago, new2here said:

I’ll say this.. I live in the Sathorn area and I brisk speed walk (as exercise) along Rajadamri Road from Rama 4 (ie Lumphini Park) up to Rama 1 (ie CTW) and the side walks there are perfect.. smooth, largely obstruction free, wide  and level ..  even on the major roads in my district - I’ve seen the city make pretty sizable improvements.. While I agree that it’s going to take time - lots of it .. and money - even more of it.. from my own perspective, it’s been a very good initial rollout 

Yeah, I live on Rajadamri.  One of the most walkable streets in Bangkok.  The did a pretty good job on Langsuan recently also.  They got rid of the ridiculous planters that narrowed the walkable sidewalk to one person at a time.  Hope that lasts.   

[babylonbrothers]

When I lived in Bangkok it was just off Prachanivet, Lad Yao, Bang Ken and the pavements were excellent in a very well kept area so it's not all bad!

[rumeaug]

Good portions of the side walks in my neighborhood have been totally renewed, and it is great. it takes time, but on a more positive note than many negative comments, it is on the way.

[Will B Good]

Bangkok Streets to Undergo Significant Improvements.....

 

............tell me this isn't the "after" photograph.....

[Purdey]

He is pulling in companies along Soi 23 to pay for the project. I doubt they will pay for everything, just the area close to their buildings.

[Xonax]

4 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

A beginning would be to remove at least 50% of the cars.

That would require lower prices and more trains at the BTS & MRT, so unfortunately it will never happen.

[Sydebolle]

Who remembers the SEA Games in Winter 1998? That was the glorious moment, when the city of Bangkok "repaired" all the pavements on lower Sukhumvit  in record time and, you have to give them that, they did a sterling job. 

The pavements were beautiful, "pram proof" and a pure joy. Once the SEA games were over a few weeks later, the same city administration sent out the workers again to collect all the concrete blocks from the pavements and left an even worse disaster behind than before. So witnesses by me living on Sukhumvit Soi 6 near the Nana intersection. 

I asked for details in a "letter to the editors" of the Bangkok Post or The Nation and that's where the bucket stopped - for good - and nobody ever reacted on the issue. 

Somchai must have "rented out" concrete blocks for a month on a monthly basis as a friend of mine, living on Thonburi side, told me a carbon-copy story in 1999 in connection with a special occasion related to an anniversary of royals. Once the festive weeks were over = concrete blocks collected again 🙂 

[kiwikeith]

16 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, sure it´s needed. It´s just the horrific amount of time all need to take to be done. After they are finish, the first street or pavement starting to crack. 😉 

Some parts of BK have holes in the footpath that have been there since I first came here in 2003, but there are many streets that have been upgraded, a massive task to fix all of BK, but most streets all over Thailand have the same problems .

Sewerage is the nasty one with smells coming up all over the country.

Edited October 5 by kiwikeith
add more

[Gottfrid]

6 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Some parts of BK have holes in the footpath that have been there since I first came here in 2003, but there are many streets that have been upgraded, a massive task to fix all of BK, but most streets all over Thailand have the same problems .

Sewerage is the nasty one with smells coming up all over the country.

Right! Also, there is no easy task to fix it all. On one side, you have the flooding every year, that moves everything around. On the other side, there are corruption and money in pockets, that together with ignorance and bad knowledge result in a sub-standard work.

Edited October 5 by Gottfrid

[khunpin]

Again? 

Maybe the last "improvements" had only Thai standard and did not last longer than 2 years ... but I guess a few bank accounts will see some significant improvement soon. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[AhFarangJa]

Well, The pavements looked just like that in the photo when I first came to Bangkok, in 1980. I have heard, and read so many times from so many Mayors that the issue will be addressed as a matter of urgency. However, I will put money on them looking the same in the next 44 years.

[Confuscious]

Repairs will not have any meaning as long as the board walks in Thailand are used to support weights they are not calculated for.

Board walks are not designed as a motorcyle lane.
Board walks are not designed to support the weight and the dimensions of the many stall installed on them.

Hire an independant inspection team to control that board walks are not used for motorbikes, illegal parking space or stalls.
Allow the inspection team to fine the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The fines will serve to pay the inspection team (ZERO COST) and the board walks will stay much longer in a good state. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

A couple of years ago the pavement along Sukhumvit Road from Nana to Phnom Phong was repaved at great expense. 

 

Already the paving slabs are cracking, there are large holes, it has been dug up again in places and it's a safety hazard. 

 

 

I live in the same general area and have for almost the past two decades.

 

And while there always are problems, I must say, the last major round of sidewalk reconstruction in the lower Sukhumvit area has proven to be the best and most durable that I've seen during my time here.

 

Before, they just laid new tiles down onto dirt or sand, which quickly became uneven and unstable once the rains  came. But this last time,  they actually laid down a concrete base level first before putting down the paver tiles...

 

Which in the areas I traverse, thus far has meant that they have remained in pretty good and stable condition overall.

 

Edited October 5 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[trainman34014]

Just more words that have all been heard dozens of times before.    Prayut said all the Overhead Wiring was going to be put underground but after one Soi was done and they told him how much it was going to cost the order was reversed !

[new2here]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Just more words that have all been heard dozens of times before.    Prayut said all the Overhead Wiring was going to be put underground but after one Soi was done and they told him how much it was going to cost the order was reversed !

Overall I’d agree.. but.. as far as improving the sidewalks/footpaths go- I have to give credit where it’s due and earned.. As others have noted, there HAS been a notable improvement in some areas … yea, that’s  “some” and not “all”..  but given the size and scope of the city and the sheer amount of footpath that needs to be addressed - that’s going to take time, but as far what’s been done so far- they get a solid score from me. 

 

As far as the wiring goes, I suspect that’s more involved, not only from a technical and logistical basis, but i’ll bet that there’s other players that need to be synched (like the MEA) before work can be done.. by contrast the footpaths are largely BMA controlled and not a lot of outside players involved. 

Edited October 5 by new2here

[Andycoops]

More mumbo jumbo that won't result in any tangible benefits, these things are just photo ops.

[Skeptic7]

Decades overdue. Not holding my breath. 

[proton]

We live on the edge of Bkk and Samut Prakan, on the SP side the roads are all newly re built with proper drains installed, no flooding. Turn the other way and over a bridge it's Bkk, the roads are all broken and with endless patched up areas, pot holes, ridges and no drains. After 20 minutes of rain floods everywhere. People have been complaining about it for years. 

Edited October 6 by proton

[RandolphGB]

On 10/5/2024 at 2:04 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I live in the same general area and have for almost the past two decades.

 

And while there always are problems, I must say, the last major round of sidewalk reconstruction in the lower Sukhumvit area has proven to be the best and most durable that I've seen during my time here.

 

Before, they just laid new tiles down onto dirt or sand, which quickly became uneven and unstable once the rains  came. But this last time,  they actually laid down a concrete base level first before putting down the paver tiles...

 

Which in the areas I traverse, thus far has meant that they have remained in pretty good and stable condition overall.

 

 

You have yellow tinted glasses and by the sounds of it, you don't walk along lower Sukhumvit very much. There are better payments in Beirut after an Israeli blitz.

[BangkokReady]

On 10/5/2024 at 5:17 AM, hotchilli said:

Sue the construction companies.

 

Why would the authorities sue themselves or their families and business partners?

[Hugh Jarse]

The pavements are a nightmare in most parts of Thailand and almost impossible to navigate for the wheelchair bound and disabled. The are on a par with Mogadishu’s and other poor nations and a serious threat for the fit and able too.

[LatPhrao]

Yes!  my Lad Phrao sidewalk has been transformed.  Beautiful work.

[Thumbs]

Decent paving is a waste of time as soon ad its nice and flat a food vendor will set up and force you to walk on the road

[Bert got kinky]

 

Bangkok Streets to Undergo Significant Improvements

This really is bad news.

They have already used their quota of broken promises for this year, so now they are already dipping into next year's allotment.

At this rate Thailand could be bereft of empty promises for the whole of 2005.

Could but not likely.