Thais And Road Building

[H2oDunc]

Just had a ride over the Maenam to Lamai mountain road. That certainly didn't last very long now did it ? I expected a bit of run off after the storm but the state the road is actually in is shocking. It has totally collapsed in one place and will soon collapse in another. You would think that they would have learnt to build roads that can cope with the rain and the run off but it appears not. They appear to have just laid the concrete onto the ground. No hard core or packing that would allow water to run through without taking the ground with it.

A shame really as it made for a nice change from the ring road. It is still passable on a bike though.

[MSingh]

Why would you think they would have cracked it by now ??

They may know exactly how to build a Road but that's irrelevent, building Roads correctly & using the right methods, means & Materials cost more money, money that they don't have to actually use if they make it to a " lesser spec " which could then go towards 18 Months of a lease on a Hummer for the Man in charge..

There is also the option that they haven't got the nous to build a decent Road, of course but whether they do or they don't, they still wouldn't when they could pocket some $$...

[justcruisin]

Why would you think they would have cracked it by now ??

They may know exactly how to build a Road but that's irrelevent, building Roads correctly & using the right methods, means & Materials cost more money, money that they don't have to actually use if they make it to a " lesser spec " which could then go towards 18 Months of a lease on a Hummer for the Man in charge..

There is also the option that they haven't got the nous to build a decent Road, of course but whether they do or they don't, they still wouldn't when they could pocket some $$...

Spot on.

And of course, there is built in redundancy they get to repair their own bodgy work.

[julesandmartin]

Looks like they even weighed in the steel rebar as scrap before pouring

[maccaroni man]

i have yet to see them do any sort of subgrade work before repairing or laying a new road which is like building an ice castle in the dessert, it aint gonna last long.

[lannarebirth]

I've watched Thais build a lot of roads. They seem to have an aversion to using stone as a base or any kind of compaction equipment. My wife says there's a lot more money to be made fixing roads than in building roads.

[steelerian]

I've watched Thais build a lot of roads.

You need some hobbies mate

[robsamui]

I've watched Thais build a lot of roads. They seem to have an aversion to using stone as a base or any kind of compaction equipment. My wife says there's a lot more money to be made fixing roads than in building roads.

Yes - it's almost beyond belief - the ring road is 5 inches of concrete reinforced with rebar and straight onto the dirt, with no footings or hardcore whatsoever. My guess is that they work on the assumption that they will have to repair and maintain them, so they might as well spend as little as possible building them to begin with. I expect the budget for building and the budget for repair are two quite separate things and getting them built for next to nothing scores lots of brownie points!

R

[Boater]

I've watched Thais build a lot of roads. They seem to have an aversion to using stone as a base or any kind of compaction equipment. My wife says there's a lot more money to be made fixing roads than in building roads.

Yes - it's almost beyond belief - the ring road is 5 inches of concrete reinforced with rebar and straight onto the dirt, with no footings or hardcore whatsoever. My guess is that they work on the assumption that they will have to repair and maintain them, so they might as well spend as little as possible building them to begin with. I expect the budget for building and the budget for repair are two quite separate things and getting them built for next to nothing scores lots of brownie points!

R

getting them built for next to nothing scores lots of brownie points! Kick Backs !!!!

[powderpuff]

Installing a few culverts might be an idea.

[robsamui]

Ahem!

[carmine]

I really don't understand why anyone is unsure of the reason for the roads cracking up.

If you build a road to spec you can only make your standard profit margin. Use a weak mix that will be laid no way deep enough and theres your extra profit.

Edited April 11, 2011 by carmine