I saw this story on several national news outlets...basically there are going to build a bridge connecting Krasaesin District in Songkhla with Khao Chaison District in Patthalung.

It had been discussed in the media for some time, especially the potential implact on a small pod if Irrawaddy Dolphin that still manage to live there in the lake.

Personally, and as someone who lives on the ithmus, I really don't see the benefit of this project. They say it will cut to 15 minutes what would otherwise be a two-hour drive....but neither side of the lake is heavily populated and the people who live here really want to get to Hat Yai, Songkhla Town or Phattalung Town. Even for people like us it wouldn't even be an effective shortcut to any of those places.

According to the Nation, "Its budget exceeds THB4.645 billion, with 70% funded by a World Bank loan and 30% from the state budget."

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has thoughts about this.

Pork barrels.

It serves zero purpose, and will just destroy the lake ecology further. How the hell they managed to secure a World Bank loan for this boondoggle of a bridge to nowhere is beyond me.

Nice and definitely a welcomed addition to the infrastruction.

Hurry and complete it, as last time looping around the South, was thinking about doing a loop around the lake, but it's a bit large, 235 km for the lake itself.

Bridge would cut out a large upper part, repetitively boring. Since already been to Thale Noi. Add a loop around Southern part, 160km would be much better and more interesting for us, and surely many others.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by KhunLA