Three New Tunnel Routes Were Proposed For The Route To Patong

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Three new tunnel routes were proposed for the route to Patong, while the Phuket Governor asks that the project must seek stakeholders’ participation.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=215009

Engineers from Kasetsart University and BMA Management Company presented three proposed initial plans to provide new road routes connecting Patong to Phuket town, to related officials in Phuket. They drew up three tunnel projects aiming to ease traffic congestion on the current hilly route which often causes accidents. The first plan proposed from near the Go Kart speedway has a 1,440 metre long tunnel to meet Nanai Road, with a budget of 1.3 billion baht for two lanes and 2.48 billion baht for four lanes. The second choice starting from the same point, goes north under the Naak Koed hill, with 1,380 metres in length, to meet the new road of Pang Muang Kor. The proposed budget is 1.28 billion baht for two lanes and 2.44 billion baht for four lanes. The third choice proposed 740 and 1.116 billion baht budgets. Phuket Governor Niran Kalanamit agreed with the plan, but asked researchers to get additional details while stakeholders must be consulted.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Tuesday 16 October 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com

[LivinLOS]

They cant afford to put the electric cables underground or purchase the last land plots to complete the main Rd that will pass Baanzaan, yet they spend time considering pie in the sky stuff like this..

Why ??

[tom yum goong]

2 billion odd baht means plenty can be skimmed into the poo yai's pockets

would be great if they did build it though, driving over that hill is a nightmare. but why even consider join up with Nanai? surely that would be the mother of all bottlenecks.

[Dupont]

It will be blocked everyday by idiots overtaking and undertaking and crasihing off the sides of the tunnel. Only instead of going over the side and killing their idiot selves, they will now bounce off the wall back into the rest of the traffic.

The problems are lack of any road education, and driving law enforcement and poorly maintained vehicles.

Some sort of ski lift where each vehicle turns off their engine to be hoisted over in a cage would cut the accidents and is as likely to happen as education!!

Joining up with Nanai makes some sense as most locals and expats live on that area.

Anybody know why the cement company cannot be billed for the line of crap building up on the Kathu side? I'm only aware of one company that could possibly be at fault here. They (cement mixers) are not hard to spot, even to the slack law (non)enforcers of Phuket.

Edited October 18, 2007 by Dupont

[ozymandious]

need 2 separate 2 lane tunnels

Normal operation is 2\ lane traffic in the same direction in each tunnel

and then when some dufus causes an accident in one, the tunnel is shut down

Traffic is then diverted to the other tunnel which will then run 2 way.

Tunnels will have to be well lit and have the obligatory green arrows and red X's to direct traffic flow

Should have double yellow lane marker in tunnel and NO passing, Should be severely enforced with CCTV

Lets' hope they don't get the notion to put a toll in

[donna]

the idea is grand, but......really......do you honestly think it will work?

how will they ventilate it?

what about emergency exits in case of an accident (as there was in Melbourne last year which sent a fireball through the tunnel)? the red and green arrows will more than likely be switched off at 9pm anyway when the rest of the traffic lights on the island are switched off, and for the rest of the time, they (along with the lighting and ventilation eating up the electricity supply) probably just wont work.

enforcing something here with CCTV is a great idea, but one that will more than likely fail. same reasons as above for one, and the general corruption associated with any traffic offence will ensure it fails for sure.

maybe i am having one of 'those' days, as im not normally this negative, but i dont see how the tunnel, coupled with the stupidity of the drivers here, will work. its a GREAT idea that COULD work. but maybe in another place.

[LeungKen]

'

They used to have ghost tunnels in the amusement parks when I was a kid ?

Say no more Ken.............

[Master Chief]

NO NO NO No and No again

Putting roads and electrical wires underground will not work, They are not able to maintain and service this tech,.

Who wants to sit in a que inside a tunnel with cars and trucks breaking down of overheating or low gasoline/diesel tanks? This happens every day over the hill, and it's is not only because of the hill!

Well, saying that will for sure make them more cocky to go thrue with this idea!

[IgnacioE]

They cant afford to put the electric cables underground or purchase the last land plots to complete the main Rd that will pass Baanzaan, yet they spend time considering pie in the sky stuff like this..

Why ??

I agree but it's a 10 out of 10 on the Unintentional Comedy Scale; this is up there with the Monorail episode from the Simpsons TV show. Don't know if I would be around in 2025 to see it completed either.