Thailand's Number 1 Highway

[tigerbeer]

All geared up to do my drive down from Chiang Mai to Bangkok come this Christmas. Realised that the highway was in really bad shape all the way from Tak to Kampheng Phet the last time i did a drive down and back up about 3 months ago. Feels like driving on the moon(not that i had done it before) with all those potholes. Its a shame that this is the backbone of Thailand's road infrastructure connecting North to Central Thailand. Anyone did a drive recently and has the road been fixed?

Just an opinion but perhaps its a good idea if some of the National Highways were to be privatised. The way it is in Malaysia. I rather pay the toll than to lose my absorbers and tyres.

[gotlost]

Yesterday TB...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Driving-Sout...ay-t322490.html

Edited December 17, 2009 by gotlost

[vel_tins]

Anyone did a drive recently and has the road been fixed?....

did that ride three days before.

And no, not fixed..

[billd766]

I rode my motosai down from Tak to Khampaeng Phet yesterday and my ass is still sore.

No the road is still very bad in both directions

[gregb]

It's alot better than it was 6 months ago, but there are still large sections between Tak and Nakon Sawan that are pretty miserable. They are still working on it. Give them another few months and the worst parts should be repaired.

However, be aware that the boys in brown around Singburi have become really nasty. They are now using speed cameras in parked patrol cars hidden around blind corners. No chance to see them. About 2km up the road is the police stop where they pull you over and give you your opportunity to contribute to their favourite charity...themselves. I make this trip about once a week and I've seen this operating on both sides of the highway now just south of the city over the past few weeks.

It appears 120 is the cutoff. Over this and they'll nail you no matter what lane you are travelling in. At 115 even in the far right lane I had no problems. They are taking a play straight from the nasty behaviour of the boys in the US. Time to start importing radar dectors.

[tigerbeer]

Hi everyone,

did my two rounds up and down Bangkok-Chiang Mai. The first round I did Highway 11 Both ways and took me 9-10 hours. Too long. Travel period: X'mas time Highway 11. Just after new years Highway 1.

On the second round I did Highway 1 both ways. I would say that on the way south between Tak and Kamphang Phet, about 40 % of the roads has been fixed. Northbound after Tak to THoen is still hel_l. About 30% fixed.

Highway 1 still a better road to take cause on the Highway 11 route, it would take you about 2 hours just to complete the Denchai - Lampang stretch with heavy repairs and road widening from 1 to 2 lanes cutting through mountains. Not an easy drive at all with your driving around 50km/h trailing trucks. It was hel_l for me cause it took 10 hours back from BKK to Chiang Mai. Too much to handle for 1 driver.

Anyone has further updates, please feel free to report here.

TB..