Traffic Lights Still Causing Major Problems

[Rimmer]

PATTAYA City Hall Deputy Chief, Khun Sitthiphap Muangkhum, recently chaired a meeting at the City Hall to discuss

Traffic Lights still causing major problems

the ongoing problems with the new traffic light systems, especially at the Pattaya Klang (Central Road) and Sukhumvit Road intersection.

Around the Pattaya Klang intersection there are three sets of traffic lights in close proximity, no sooner have you waited for one red light, when you are immediately faced with another. You may remember in a report from City Hall a couple of months ago, which we reported in Pattaya Today, they were going to get experts in to sync the lights to work in conjunction, rather than independently.

The major problems arose when the intersection to Soi Nongprue (Chaiyapornwithee), was opened after being closed for many years, this has caused major tailbacks, especially at peak times, and have generated a huge amount of complaints from local residents. Rumour has it that a high ranking Government Official bought a property in the area and the lights were installed, and intersection opened, so he would not be inconvenienced.

With Pattaya’s increasing growth, especially between 2002 and 2007, the amount of traffic using Pattaya’s roads has seen a dramatic increase. Pattaya City Hall have in the past hired professional companies to come up with a solution to the traffic flow problems, all have failed to submit an idea that is workable and affordable.

With the overall traffic flow in Pattaya, the experts suggested a banning of Baht Busses, however, it is thought, that as they have been such a huge part of the growing identity of Pattaya, and with thousands of Thai’s earning a living from them, it would not be the right move. The other major problem facing free flowing traffic is the inability of the police to ensure traffic laws are upheld, this is something that the City Hall has no control over.

The meeting decided that further meetings were needed to discuss these traffic problems, especially with the construction of the new flyover nearly completed and the planned construction of a tunnel. It was thought that they should take all these factors into account before trying to solve this ongoing problem.

Source:

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?acti...ews&id=7699

[Chang_paarp]

With the overall traffic flow in Pattaya, the experts suggested a banning of Baht Busses, however, it is thought, that as they have been such a huge part of the growing identity of Pattaya, and with thousands of Thai’s earning a living from them, it would not be the right move. The other major problem facing free flowing traffic is the inability of the police to ensure traffic laws are upheld, this is something that the City Hall has no control over.

:D :D :D

[TheWalkingMan]

...Rumour has it that a high ranking Government Official bought a property in the area and the lights were installed, and intersection opened, so he would not be inconvenienced...

The bigwigs are always impatient.

TheWalkingMan

[Spoonman]

Where is Soi Nongprue ??

I use the siam country club exit daily these days and to be honest i think it works well, the biggest joke i think for traffic lights was all the ones they installed on the Pattaya bypass, thank god they have disabled them.

[monty]

Have to agree, at central Pattaya I do not see too much of a problem. There are only two sets of lights anyway, Central road and Siam Country club road. And they do seem to work synchronized properly.

The "Nong Prue" road aka Soi Chayapornviti (the road where the main office of Pattaya Ciy Water works is) is would be working OK if there were proper road markings on the Bangkok bound part.

What happens now is that many drivers (driving towards Bangkok) do not realize the right hand lane is reserved for cars wanting to turn right onto Nong Prue road, so when the lights go green (but only for going straight, not turning onto Nong Prue road), the drivers in the right hand lane realize they are in a non moving, turning right, lane, and start trying to get into the other moving lanes creating one big mess!

[farangpattaya]

What happens now is that many drivers (driving towards Bangkok) do not realize the right hand lane is reserved for cars wanting to turn right onto Nong Prue road, so when the lights go green (but only for going straight, not turning onto Nong Prue road), the drivers in the right hand lane realize they are in a non moving, turning right, lane, and start trying to get into the other moving lanes creating one big mess!

There are signs and huge arrows warning for the "right-turn" situation approx. 2 kms ahead. But for some it is impossible to leave this lane unused causing a disturbance in traffic flow. Basically these set of lights could need a bit of fine tuning.

The lights on most other intersections in Pattaya are working quite well UNTIL the BIB decide to play around with the switches, thinking that he can do it better.

[Spoonman]

Cheers Monty, yeah that Nongprue intersection is a major pain in the ass,i sit there every morning for atleast 5 minutes, ohh well, enough time to get out of the car, stretch my legs and suck down a ciggie i spose.

[monty]

Cheers Monty, yeah that Nongprue intersection is a major pain in the ass,i sit there every morning for atleast 5 minutes, ohh well, enough time to get out of the car, stretch my legs and suck down a ciggie i spose.

I don't drive that way very often, but I recall that intersection to be gridlocked at peak times even before that turn of to Soi Nong Prue was possible.

I think there are not enough lanes to handle the outgoing traffic in the early evenings, maybe they could try to keep the left lane free, which now is for all practical purposes a parking lane...

This should be eased of if and when the highway nr. 7 extension gets opened, as this will create an alternative way to leave patters.

Actually, at the moment, taking Soi Siam Country club and then North onto the parallel road with the rail tracks will see you bypass that Sukhumvit gridlock at Soi Nong Prue rather effortless.

[gmac]

I have never understood why they feel they have to leave the lights at green for so long at each change, the long delays in the other directions promote impatience and leads to people jumping the red light to avoid a 5 minute wait. Surely 30 seconds each way rather than 2 minutes plus would make for a smoother flow. I'm no expert but whenever the BiB's take over they always extend the times and delays seem even worse..... why don't they ever try the short delay method?

[Spoonman]

Cheers Monty, yeah that Nongprue intersection is a major pain in the ass,i sit there every morning for atleast 5 minutes, ohh well, enough time to get out of the car, stretch my legs and suck down a ciggie i spose.

I don't drive that way very often, but I recall that intersection to be gridlocked at peak times even before that turn of to Soi Nong Prue was possible.

I think there are not enough lanes to handle the outgoing traffic in the early evenings, maybe they could try to keep the left lane free, which now is for all practical purposes a parking lane...

This should be eased of if and when the highway nr. 7 extension gets opened, as this will create an alternative way to leave patters.

Actually, at the moment, taking Soi Siam Country club and then North onto the parallel road with the rail tracks will see you bypass that Sukhumvit gridlock at Soi Nong Prue rather effortless.

Yeah during peak times they need to clear all vehicles parked in the left hand lanes, that would free up an extra lane and the traffic would surely flow better.

I used to use the entire bypass all the way to the 36 but its a dam_n lottery at the best of times, sometimes i could get to work in 30 minutes (Laem Chabang) other days it would take 50 minutes, all depends on the morons crossing over, not to mention the random freight trains etc etc.

By getting onto suk road Via Soi Siam i consistenly make work in 40 minutes allowing me a set time to leave home in the mornings without fear of being late.