Phuket Landslide Update: Patong Hill slides continue

LIVING ON THE EDGE: Phuket motorists make their way past the problematic

section of Patong Hill road. Photo by Ulf Mikaelsson.

PHUKET: -- Efforts by Phuket authorities to shore up Patong Hill road took a turn for the worse today, when the dirt foundation under a recently "repaired" section of road slid away, taking the breakdown lane with it.

The latest slide, from beneath a section that had been covered with blacktop just days before, exposed more soil and increased the chances of further erosion and slippage.

It also contorted a long section of heavy-duty guardrail.

The endangered section of road is on the Patong side of the hilltop, some 200 meters down slope to the west of the Chinese shrine.

Motorists are asked to exercise extreme caution and keep as far right as possible when passing the area, which is marked with traffic cones, sandbags and metal barriers.

They are also advised that workers from the Provincial Electricity Authority are working on the hill today, trying to replace power poles damaged from the recent landslides.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?id=11234

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-10-19

With the speed of a striking slug the authorities sprang into action to ensure public safety following the latest collapse.

With the speed of a striking slug the authorities sprang into action to ensure public safety following the latest collapse.

And no doubt the 'authorities' are calculating their 'cut' of the repair funding.

Am I seeing this right? Part of the road, the width of a traffic lane, has already slid off and traffic is allowed to continue on the remaining width of the road?

Edited October 19, 201114 yr by Puccini