Chaos Looms At Lat Phrao Junction

[george]

Chaos looms at Lat Phrao junction

BMA decides to close lanes from early July

BANGKOK: -- Chaos is awaiting motorists who regularly use the five-way Lat Phrao junction as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to close some road lanes there from early next month to pave the way for construction of a new flyover.

Relocation of public utilities to clear the area for construction work which started late last year has already finished. The next stage is pile driving and superstructure work for the flyover.

This stage needs space on Vibhavadi Rangsit road that crosses Phahon Yothin road at the junction.

The road's partial closure was scheduled to start on June 15. However, it was postponed because traffic police and city officials were unsure how to handle traffic problems in the area once construction begins.

The city administration, its contractor and traffic police have now reached an agreement on a traffic solution and the partial road closure will start in the first week of next month. Construction is likely to end on Nov 25.

According to deputy Bangkok governor Samart Ratchapolsitte, four of five outbound lanes (heading for Don Muang) in the middle of Vibhavadi Rangsit road will be closed. The closed section starts from Chit Pochana restaurant to an entrance of Chatuchak park near the headquarters of PTT Plc.

But two temporary lanes will be created, making three outbound lanes. The two left lanes will serve traffic going toward Don Muang and traffic turning left on to Phahon Yothin road. The remaining right lane will serve straight flows and motorists who make a U-turn.

For inbound traffic heading for Din Daeng, two left lanes out of five will be closed but the number of lanes will remain at five thanks to two new temporary lanes.

Mr Samart said that for outbound motorists, the number of lanes would decrease from five to three. The 30,000 people who work in the area where, for example, Central Lat Phrao department store, Sun Tower building, St John's University and PTT Plc stand, were likely to encounter traffic problems.

Mr Samart urged other motorists to take detours as far as possible ahead of the intersection. Motorists taking a detour close to the intersection could become trapped, he said. Ram Inthra-At Narong expressway and Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway would be good choices for those who frequently used Vibhavadi Rangsit road but did not have destinations near the Lat Phrao intersection, he said.

Pol Maj-Gen Panu Kerdlarppol, deputy Bangkok police chief, said he would deploy 20 traffic police in addition to city police and traffic volunteers to direct traffic flow in the area. A traffic solution centre would also be opened there.

``I am worried because the area is a big junction where Vibhavadi, Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao road join. I am concerned about outbound traffic because long traffic jams can stretch back to inner areas such as Din Daeng, Sukhumvit, Victory Monument, Phaya Thai and Sri Ayutthaya. Problems will be less serious for inbound traffic because it comes from the suburbs,'' the officer said. He urged motorists to use other roads, reserve more time for a trip or avoid being on the roads leading to the intersection during rush hours.

Mr Samart said that after the new flyover is completed, the traffic in the area where about 300,000 vehicles pass every day will be relieved by as much as 80% especially on Vibhavadi road.

The flyover project will cost 454 million baht. The contractor is Unique Engineering and Construction Co. The contract started on Dec 1 last year and lasts until Nov 25.

The flyover will have four outbound lanes starting from Chit Pochana restaurant to PTT Plc: two for traffic heading for Don Muang and two for traffic taking a right turn to Phahon Yothin road. There will be two inbound lanes from the toll gate of Din Daeng-Don Muang tollway near Horwang school to St John's University to serve traffic heading straight ahead and vehicles making a right turn to Phahon Yothin road.

When the new flyover is completed, traffic lights will be removed at Lat Phrao intersection except for inbound traffic turning right to Phahon Yothin road.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-13

[joinme2leave]

He urged motorists to use other roads, reserve more time for a trip or avoid being on the roads leading to the intersection during rush hours.

oooh yeah! what a good idea!!!

reserve what????

last time LP my "reservation time" was 30 minutes for 500 meter driving...

beginning early july (and ending november 25 ???? what a joke again!!)

I would be forced to reserve WHAT ???? 60 minutes for 500 meters...

[News_Editor]

Lat Phrao closures start tomorrow

BANGKOK: -- The dates and times for the closure of traffic lanes on three major roads that meet at the Lat Phrao junction were announced yesterday, with the first closure scheduled for midnight on Saturday.

Bangkok deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsitte gave details of the closures.

Two inbound lanes on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road in front of Saint John’s University will be closed – one lane will be closed all day, while the other will be shut between 9pm and 5am daily. Two outbound Phaholyothin lanes will be closed on July 6 also, with one lane shut for the entire day and the other between 9pm and 5am.

Two outbound Vibhavadi lanes – in front of the Jitphotechana Restaurant – will be closed on July 14, as will another two inbound Vibhavadi lanes on July 31. An additional two inbound Vibhavadi lanes will be closed on August 23. The lanes will remain closed until three flyover routes are completed – by November 25, he said.

Yesterday’s decision differs from an original agreement reached by government agencies responsible for traffic management – including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Traffic Police Division – in which all closures were set to begin at midnight on Saturday.

Samart said the closures needed to be staggered because closing all the lanes on the same day would result in traffic chaos, as the junction is one of the city’s busiest.

--The Nation 2005-06-17