Plans Unveiled For Phuket’s Long-Awaited Patong Tunnel

[webfact]

Plans unveiled for Phuket’s long-awaited Patong tunnel

The plans provide for an elevated road stretching more than 500 meters.

Evacuation routes for people trapped in the tunnels by fire were also presented.

PHUKET: -- Research consultants conducting the feasibility study for Phuket’s controversial Kathu-Patong tunnel project yesterday announced the route they plan to propose to the government.

The proposed route would start from Soi Bang Thong on Phra Barami Rd near the Go-Kart Speedway in Kathu, tunnel through the hills and connect with Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd in Patong, explained Anurak Srisawaeng, one of the study panel members.

Mr Anurak explained to a public meeting yesterday that the total length of the proposed route is 3.07 kilometers.

“The route from Kathu will start with a four-lane, ground-level road about 625 meters long.

“The road will lead to twin tunnels, about 1,600 meters long, through the Nakkerd Hills,” he said.

“At the end of the tunnels, the route will continue on a 504m elevated road which will become a six-lane road connecting to Phang Muang Sai Kor Road,” Mr Anurak explained.

Study project manager Pongchanit Chuwiruch said that public opinion will be taken into consideration, but the final decision will ultimately belong to the Ministry of Transport.

“Generally, projects do not need to have 100 per cent agreement [by all stakeholders] in order for construction to be approved,” he said.

“But we definitely have to listen to the people who oppose the project too, and thus find suitable measures for them,” he added.

One earlier concern had been safety and the need for evacuation routes, a contingency now addressed with the tunnels showing exit passages for people trapped inside.

However, several local residents repeated their concern over receiving inadequate compensation for land needed for the project.

Regardless, Mr Pongchanit said, “If everything goes well, without opposition or obstacles, the tunnel could be completed within six years."

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-07-22

[PoorSucker]

That tunnels looks perfect for setting up some food stands.

[seriouseats]

It's going to be a real death trap in there..

[Udox]

A six lane highway ? Twin tunnels?.....

Am I alone in thinking it's just not right for Phuket?

People don't come to a holiday island for six lane highways and tunnels through natural mountains.

I love the twisty roads with beautiful scenery here - far better than twin tunnels of concrete.

Patong Hill is dangerous because of the way people drive over it - will twin tunnels change people's driving style or encourage more race track antics by the 'green plate' brigade.

I think it's sad if it it goes ahead.

[WithMarco]

who cares, phuket is dead since a long time, what you have now just the rotting corpse.

[fiercesnake]

Why don't they just bulldoze Patong totally? Problem solved!

Gosh every week it seems that there are multiple articles involving scams, touts, corruption, tuk tuk bashings, disputes, crooked ladyboys etc., from Phukhet, especially Patong. Of all the great places in Thailand Phukhet's Patong is a major disappointment. A tunnel to avoid it sounds great but how much better could the money be spent on more pressing issues? But that's Thailand for you, make it look great so we can say to the world, "We're there, we made it, we're developed!" As one poster said it, people don't go to Phukhet for massive urban development, maybe the government is missing the point?

Honestly sounds great but really the money could be better spent to improve the real problems facing Phukhet. It's a beautiful island ruined by bureaucratic politicians and old style corruption at all levels.

[phuketrichard]

Patong in NOT Phuket and Phuket is long from Dead,

All major hotel chains are building and there is still many things to do. As long as you stay away from Jetski's and Tuk Tuk' u can have a great holiday.

Main thing i see is that this is going to be built with Korean's running it. Which means they will charge$$. Majority of thai's that work in Patong. live in Kathu and Phuket town, so even if its 60-100 baht, it will be to expensive. EVEN if they do raise daily salaries to 300 baht/day. So they will be forced to use the "old road" which will be overused and more accidents will occur.

If buses need to pay you will no longer be able to ride from Phuket to Patong as cheap so that is no good as well.

It will raise the already expensive taxi fare (now about 550-600 baht from Airport to Patong) and u will have more complaints.

This also does not take into account where the new road will blend in with the old road as there is not much space on Prah Brahmee road for 4 (god forbid 6) lanes into 2.

Much cheaper to hire a few extra police and keep them on both sides of the hill, Its the overloaded trucks, speeders, under powered bus's and rain that causes the accidents

But then realistically, it will never happen. More pipe dreams

Edited July 23, 2011 by phuketrichard

[bdenner]

Wonder if the Germans are going to lend em the money to do this?

[steveyinasia]

Once again the real reason for building the tunnel is not broadcast, the headline really needs to say " government officials have found a new source of lining their pockets with another ridiculous project".

[seriouseats]

a lot less ridiculous than the sea-side convention center with 0 users all year around. Gotta give them that.

[gregmalin]

Wonder if the Germans are going to lend em the money to do this?

Nope, it's coming from Rhine horn sales.

[Tanaka]

Patong in NOT Phuket and Phuket is long from Dead,

All major hotel chains are building and there is still many things to do. As long as you stay away from Jetski's and Tuk Tuk' u can have a great holiday.

Main thing i see is that this is going to be built with Korean's running it. Which means they will charge$$. Majority of thai's that work in Patong. live in Kathu and Phuket town, so even if its 60-100 baht, it will be to expensive. EVEN if they do raise daily salaries to 300 baht/day. So they will be forced to use the "old road" which will be overused and more accidents will occur.

If buses need to pay you will no longer be able to ride from Phuket to Patong as cheap so that is no good as well.

It will raise the already expensive taxi fare (now about 550-600 baht from Airport to Patong) and u will have more complaints.

This also does not take into account where the new road will blend in with the old road as there is not much space on Prah Brahmee road for 4 (god forbid 6) lanes into 2.

Much cheaper to hire a few extra police and keep them on both sides of the hill, Its the overloaded trucks, speeders, under powered bus's and rain that causes the accidents

But then realistically, it will never happen. More pipe dreams

It is not the vehicles or the rain that cause accidents. It is inapt, unprofessional, incompetent and stupid drivers.

[HerbalEd]

It's going to be a real death trap in there..

How do you know?

[LiorW]

A six lane highway ? Twin tunnels?.....

Am I alone in thinking it's just not right for Phuket?

People don't come to a holiday island for six lane highways and tunnels through natural mountains.

I love the twisty roads with beautiful scenery here - far better than twin tunnels of concrete.

Patong Hill is dangerous because of the way people drive over it - will twin tunnels change people's driving style or encourage more race track antics by the 'green plate' brigade.

I think it's sad if it it goes ahead.

Agree. One of the nice things in Phuket, and in the rest of Thailand, is the great view you get to see while you're driving. There are simply some places that concrete doesn't do good to.

Edited July 24, 2011 by LiorW

[KarenBravo]

Nice views? Tunnel a death-trap? You're all missing the point.

The road over the hill is deadly. It has claimed dozens and dozens of lives.

When it rains, it gets outrageously slippery, like a skating rink.

Whether the accidents are caused by un-roadworthy vehicles, bad driving, or, whatever; it's the hill that kills. If it was a flat road, these accidents wouldn't happen.

In any westernized country, there would have been a tunnel made years ago.

Why not Phuket?

Too interested in the "nice views"?

[woodyleonhard]

Why not Phuket?

Here, here....