Korat : Hwy 304 + Rain = Landlides ?

[Cuban]

Being the cynic that I am I wonder about the lessons learned from seeing road/housing construction techniques across Thailand and the resultant landslides that have followed heavy rain.

It has been a while since we have had to drive along Hwy 304 through Korat but I recall my frequent trips during the road widening and surfacing work over the years. I recall my thoughts on a number of occasions during late night journeys in the rainy season, while the family are asleep and I look at the streams of water flowing along the road in the headlights. I believe in many countries there is an awareness that to stop the erosion of soil during rain you need to maintain vegetation, as I recall the sides of the 304 through the hills/mountains around Pak Thong Chai the sides of the road are stripped back? Allowing the rain to form gullies and carry soil onto the road and block any storm drainage (is there any) further down the hill.

Any recent experiences, thoughts or observations ?

[zzaa09]

Especially, the last couple of weeks....as Hwy 304 runs a lengthy stretch of higher altitudes/grades the area tends to receive even a fair amount of rain - over and above the tremendous thunderstorms we've been receiving in the region. And it also has it's reputation for flash-floods and landslides because of it's winding landscape. Added to the usual morons already on the road. Best to check on the immediate weather if passing on Hwy 304 from Korat to Saraburi. One can take alternative routes....

[klikster]

Especially, the last couple of weeks....as Hwy 304 runs a lengthy stretch of higher altitudes/grades the area tends to receive even a fair amount of rain - over and above the tremendous thunderstorms we've been receiving in the region. And it also has it's reputation for flash-floods and landslides because of it's winding landscape. Added to the usual morons already on the road. Best to check on the immediate weather if passing on Hwy 304 from Korat to Saraburi. One can take alternative routes....

Do you mean #2 or #24 or .. maybe the new #209? I don't think 304 runs to Sara Buri.

[ballpoint]

Especially, the last couple of weeks....as Hwy 304 runs a lengthy stretch of higher altitudes/grades the area tends to receive even a fair amount of rain - over and above the tremendous thunderstorms we've been receiving in the region. And it also has it's reputation for flash-floods and landslides because of it's winding landscape. Added to the usual morons already on the road. Best to check on the immediate weather if passing on Hwy 304 from Korat to Saraburi. One can take alternative routes....

Do you mean #2 or #24 or .. maybe the new #209? I don't think 304 runs to Sara Buri.

It goes from Korat to Kabin Buri, in Sa Kaew province. I s'pose you could get Sa Buri out of that.

[jombom]

There seem to be retaining plates drilled into the rock faces, and channels to contain minor slides. Design looks ok to me. Has anybody actually seen a landslide on the mountain? Or is this thread hypothetical?