New Road To Bring More Tourists To Chiang Mai

[george]

New road to bring more tourists to Chiang Mai attractions

BANGKOK: -- The Highways Department yesterday opened a new road aimed a attracting hordes more tourists to the popular northern province of Chiang Mai, while announcing a Bt3 billion programme of road improvement plans for the province.

The new road, which runs from Hang Dong to Chiang Mai University, in fact represents the expansion of an existing two-lane road into a major four-lane highway.

The province hopes that the road, which cost over Bt300 million to upgrade, will attract visitors to some of the province’s newest state-run tourist attractions, including the Night Safari and the international convention centre scheduled to host a global agricultural exhibition.

However, the road still lacks adequate lighting due to a funding shortfall.

Mr. Bancha Ekthammasit, a government engineer working on the project, said yesterday that the Highways Department planned to spend an additional Bt3 billion on the upgrade of roads in the province, including the expansion of the two-lane roads linking Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and Lampang – both important tourist destinations - into four-lane highways.

The department hopes that by next year, its road improvement programmes will have slashed maximum journey time from any northern province to Chiang Mai International Airport – slated to become the region’s next aviation hub - to under two hours.

--TNA 2004-08-29

[sabaijai]

They actually did a pretty good job on this road.

I recently got a copy of a map showing the city's plans to link this road directly with the 'superhighway' coming from the north. The full loop could never be completed because Nimanhemin runs into the air force base. So the city is going to plough a new road link through land/city blocks to the west of Nimanhemin and it will join the canal road where Ton Phayom Market now stands. The market and surrounding shops will all be moved out.

[Rinrada]

Should make it easier to get to Mon-tao-pha-ya-phrom for a beer

[chanchao]

Saw the opening last Saturday. They actually closed it first to open it officially causing somewhat of a traffic jam. (The road has been completed for several months at least).

> Mr. Bancha Ekthammasit, a government engineer working on the

> project, said yesterday that the Highways Department planned to

> spend an additional Bt3 billion on the upgrade of roads in the

> province, including the expansion of the two-lane roads linking

> Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and Lampang – both important tourist

> destinations - into four-lane highways.

Well. That the Chiang Rai road goes through serious mountenous terrain and therefore will be VERY expensive to upgrade, may be off-set by the fact that the 4 lane superhighway to Lampang has been in operation for about 4 years now.

I almost wonder if it's faster/safer to go down to Lampang (1 hour) and then back up past Phayao to reach Chiang Rai, compared to taking the current (mostly 2/3 lane) road to Chiang Rai?

Cheers,

Chanchao

[ovenman]

New road to bring more tourists to Chiang Mai attractions

BANGKOK: -- The Highways Department yesterday opened a new road aimed a attracting hordes more tourists to the popular northern province of Chiang Mai, while announcing a Bt3 billion programme of road improvement plans for the province.

I am glad that the irrigation canal road was upgraded to a four-lane but am having a hard time picturing how having done so it will be "attracting hordes more tourists to the popular northern province of Chiang Mai". Anybody have any thoughts on this?

[davidgtr]

I almost wonder if it's faster/safer to go down to Lampang (1 hour) and then back up past Phayao to reach Chiang Rai, compared to taking the current (mostly 2/3 lane) road to Chiang Rai?

Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai = 183 kms & should not take much more than 2 1/4 hrs max for a good fast driver. On a bike its faster.

Chiang Mai - Lampang = 96 kms, about 50-60 mins, then its another 252 kms to Chiang Rai, so its hardly a faster short cut going to Chiang Rai via Lampang from Chiang Mai.

[chanchao]

Right.. safer though. (Especially if you were planning on good fast driving through Wiang Pa Pao and all those other towns doing 100 kph.. )

[chanchao]

but am having a hard time picturing how having done so it will be "attracting hordes more tourists to the popular northern province of Chiang Mai". Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Um, the night safari project is on that road? :-) Another multi million project that I can't see really drawing in the crowds.. I mean 'real' nature and natural park treks: sure, day or night, sounds like an excellent thing to do around Chiang Mai. But an artificial night safari... hum.

Cheers,

Chanchao