I'll be soon embarking on my bi annual pilgrimage to Kham Ta Kla and plan to use Highway 22 from Udon Thani to Phang Khon.

On my last trip in April/May there was extensive roadworks in progress rendering this road very dangerous.

Travelling from Bangkok, I'll be negotiating this highway late into the evening and I'm worried about the safety aspect.

Previously the road shoulders were unmarked making travel quite dangerous by night.

Have the roadworks been completed or is it still under construction?

Any information would be appreciated.

I use that road a fair bit and know what you mean about the roadworks. Seemed like it went on for years. Went to Udon the other day from Sakon Nakhon and all the road works are now finished. Good, fast bit of road East of Udon up the 22 now.

Regards

Jim

I use that road a fair bit and know what you mean about the roadworks. Seemed like it went on for years. Went to Udon the other day from Sakon Nakhon and all the road works are now finished. Good, fast bit of road East of Udon up the 22 now.

Regards

Jim

Thanks Jim.

Traveling from Bangkok my girlfriend says the bus to Kham Ta Kla takes a turn off well before Udon Thai.

Its a secondary road and appears quite dodgy by night. I'd hate to kill some scooter rider on a bend or run into cattle.

I prefer using the main highway, and navigate onto the Udon Thani by pass to Highway 22.

Much safer by night and with the newly completed roadworks will allow me to make good time.

Really appreciate your report.

Brave man, I try to avoid riding at night on Thai roads. Bad enough during the day when you can see, even worse when the samlors and bikes have no lights and the drivers are pissed, buses and trucks stop for nothing. Hope you have a good run and holiday in Isaan.

Just drove up to Nawa and back form the airport. Both ways roughly 7 hours, although going up I left the AP at 11PM so stopped by KK for a quick nap and the section of 22 was nice. Once over the mountain from Sakhon and past Kalasin I was able to haul butt. The night driving was way better than day. No buffalo or cows and the motorbike gang wasn't out either.

BJ

From Udon Thani to Nong Han the road has 4 lane "highway" status, Nong Han is about 32kms East of Udon.

It's a very nice drive nowadays, unlike the death road it was before. I travel this road once a week.

Still need to watch out for the occasional idiot coming the wrong way or having no lights whatsoever.

From Udon Thani to Nong Han the road has 4 lane "highway" status, Nong Han is about 32kms East of Udon.

It's a very nice drive nowadays, unlike the death road it was before. I travel this road once a week.

Still need to watch out for the occasional idiot coming the wrong way or having no lights whatsoever.

I've seem motorcyclists on my last trip burling along on the verge of Highway 22 traveling the wrong way.

One appeared to be doing 60-70kmh the wrong way.

I wonder how many get caught under someones wheels?

Atleast on Highway 22 you good a good view of what's coming.

Its the subsidiary roads which have dogs, chickens, kids, scooters, trikes & cattle appearing al of a sudden around a verge.