Chalong To Patong Road

[Sir Burr]

For several years now, the Chalong to Patong road has been 90% complete. Only about 2 Kms right at the top of the hill has not been surfaced. I last went from Chalong to Patong on this road three years ago on a Honda Dream. Now, the unsurfaced portion of the road is impassable due to the deep cracks and ravines created by the rains. Heard in the Phuket Gazette some time ago that they were planning to make a reservoir on the Chalong side, but have heard nothing since.

If this road was completed, it would cut the chalong to Patong time to 10 minutes, also, easing traffic on the Patong to Kathu road.

Has anybody got any info, or have heard anything about the fate of this road?

[LivinLOS]

Another started without planning enterprise.. I also did the road on a (rented) dream /wave / whatever a couple of years back..

I have heard (purely unverifiable bar talk) that portions of the road have to run through state land that needed reclassifying or private land not for sale.. Same as many projects which get half assed planning and initial money spent to find out they cant actually complete !!

Agree with this road in place it would make Chalong / Patong a very short journey, with the state of the Patong to Tesco Lotus Rd and traffic through Kathu it really makes sense to finish it.

[RDN]

Can someone say where you get on this road - at the Chalong end - because I've always gone through Kata and Karon to get to Patong, and don't know of any other route

[LivinLOS]

There isnt really another route... From memeory it comes out on the temple Rd but I was new to Phuket when I did it and am only really familair with the Patong end..

The Patong end comes out on the southern end of the Hasip pee mountain Rd..

[RDN]

There isnt really another route... From memeory it comes out on the temple Rd but I was new to Phuket when I did it and am only really familair with the Patong end..

The Patong end comes out on the southern end of the Hasip pee mountain Rd..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, I think I know where you mean at the Patong end - I used to have an apartment at the north end of Hasip Pee road. As you go south, you eventually come to a road junction where you turn right to get to the road that goes through Patong municipality. I don't think I ever turned left! Adventurous? Moi?

[Sir Burr]

RDN,

From Hayaek Circle, take the road to the temple. Go past the temple, past the school and across the small bridge. The next turning on the left is the Chalong end of the Chalong to Patong road. There are yellow flags at the entrance. The road comes out at the southern end of Narnai, where all those tall guest-houses are clustered on the hill-side. You could not do it on a Honda Dream anymore because of so many rainy season's worth of neglect. I would imagine it would be good fun to do if you have a decent 4x4.

[RDN]

RDN,

From Hayaek Circle, take the road to the temple. Go past the temple, past the school and across the small bridge. The next turning on the left is the Chalong end of the Chalong to Patong road. There are yellow flags at the entrance. The road comes out at the southern end of Narnai, where all those tall guest-houses are clustered on the hill-side. You could not do it on a Honda Dream anymore because of so many rainy season's worth of neglect. I would imagine it would be good fun to do if you have a decent 4x4.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, Sir Burr, I'll have a look tomorrow in my 2X4. But don't worry, I've been up so many narrow, steep, windy, dirt tracks in my pick-up I know exactly when to give up and start reversing (hand brake on, foot brake on, gearbox in first, and still going backwards )

[Sir Burr]

Thanks, Sir Burr, I'll have a look tomorrow in my 2X4. But don't worry, I've been up so many narrow, steep, windy, dirt tracks in my pick-up I know exactly when to give up and start reversing (hand brake on, foot brake on, gearbox in first, and still going backwards       )

Let us know how you get on. Conditions get pretty hairy, and that was two rainy seasons ago.

[slider]

For several years now, the Chalong to Patong road has been 90% complete. Only about 2 Kms right at the top of the hill has not been surfaced. I last went from Chalong to Patong on this road three years ago on a Honda Dream. Now, the unsurfaced portion of the road is impassable due to the deep cracks and ravines created by the rains. Heard in the Phuket Gazette some time ago that they were planning to make a reservoir on the Chalong side, but have heard nothing since.

If this road was completed, it would cut the chalong to Patong time to 10 minutes, also, easing traffic on the Patong to Kathu road.

Has anybody got any info, or have heard anything about the fate of this road?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I understand the road in question and the dual carriageway “road to nowhere” going straight ahead from Karon Beach were instigated by Mayor Pian who owns land in the upper mountain area. Both roads had merit and would provide better access to Patong. Unfortunately a few years ago he was disposed as mayor and it seems his successor was not as interested in carrying on doing these worthwhile things for Patong unless serious commissions were involved a fact proven as he was up on charges of corruption and removed from office prior to his full term.. Khun Pian has only just recently been re-elected after several disputes of vote rigging (Can you believe?) and now hopefully he will continue in his quest for better access to Patong. Unfortunately the tsunami has probably distracted his intentions so it may be a while before work is resumed on the Chalong – Patong road. I know for a fact that this road is Khun Pian’s baby (he drove me up the road while the bulldozers were working about 4 years ago) so lets hope after the beach road is back to normal perhaps he will focus again on road improvement.

[RDN]

My apologies - I'd completely forgotten about this road. I've stuck a "post-it" on my front door, so I should remember to have a look tomorrow.

[RDN]

At last I remembered to go and have a look! Once I'd turned onto the road, I knew I'd been there a few times before, but never up to the top. And that was because half the road used to be missing. But now there is fresh tarmac where there used to be holes and it goes all the way up to a flat area that has a workmen's hut and a tracked "back-hoe". Going up the mountain on the left of this area is a new dirt road that looks very wet and slippery - and there's no way I was going to go up there!

This is the view just before the new flat tarmac area showing the dirt road on the left:

This picture is from the flat tarmac area:

It is encouraging that there are electricity poles and cables - maybe there is something up there. If it stops raining long enough, I'll go have a look.

There is some building work going on near where the road meets Chao Fa road, but the reason the road is in such a bad state is because someone is selling dirt. I saw 5 trucks waiting for dirt, 3 on the road and 2 at the site:

There is or used to be another dirt business after the first one, but I didn't seen any activity there when I went. Maybe they decided the mountain had suffered enough:

There is also a water business - filling up tankers from a small lake just before you get to the dirt business.

So apart from dirt lorries and water tankers, there's not much else to disturb the wildlife. Apart from the occasional Thaivisa guy wanting to take some pictures

Edited May 15, 2005 by RDN

[impossible_me]

moomom

[RDN]

moomom

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Say what ?

Poot arai ?

พูด อะไร ?

/edit: Maybe you mean a "moh"? A bull or ox - มอ?

[Sir Burr]

About three years ago, a friend was thinking of buying some land in the valley on the Chalong side of the road. Seven rai for five million baht.

If the road does get completed, this valley will be as close, if not closer than Kathu, where most of the people with businesses in Patong, and have a family, live.

Seems like a good opportunity to make a handsome profit if you have the spare cash and the knowledge that the completion of the road is a certainty.

Unfortunately, don't have the spare cash and although the news from RDN is promising, it is by no means conclusive.

[RDN]

About three years ago, a friend was thinking of buying some land in the valley on the Chalong side of the road. Seven rai for five million baht.

If the road does get completed, this valley will be as close, if not closer than Kathu, where most of the people with businesses in Patong, and have a family, live.

Seems like a good opportunity to make a handsome profit if you have the spare cash and the knowledge that the completion of the road is a certainty.

Unfortunately, don't have the spare cash and although the news from RDN is promising, it is by no means conclusive.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shhhh! Don't let everybody know

I had a look at the other end too, where Hasip Pee road ends at a junction, and there's even less change there... the same wide dirt track that disappears up the mountain. It might be worthwhile sending a letter or email to the Phuket Gazette - they seem to be able to get to the right people to get reliable ( TIT ) information about what's going on.

There is some building going on at the Chalong end - a large area has been enclosed by the standard two meter wall. It looks big enough for half a dozen houses. Time will tell what's going on there. One thing you can be sure about, if the road project takes off, so will the land price!