City Approves Central-Sukhumvit Tunnel Project

[Rimmer]

City approves Central-Sukhumvit tunnel project

Construction could begin in October

PATTAYA: -- Construction of a traffic-relief tunnel under the intersection of Central and Sukhumvit roads could begin as soon as October after Pattaya officials approved the 800 million baht project.

Approval of the Central-Sukhumvit junction bypass - which calls for four subterranean lanes to be built under the busy intersection to separate through and downtown Pattaya-bound traffic - comes after several public hearings showing off various designs. Public feedback centered on a roofed roadway, 1,900 meters long, running from Pornprapanimit Road, under Sukhumvit and ending on Central Road.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome explained that only 420 meters of the roadway would be covered. The 20-meter-wide roadway will have air ventilators, drainage, security cameras and a fire extinguisher system. There will also be a U-turn constructed in the middle of the tunnel with and island adorned with dolphin sculptures.

Full story and artists pictures HERE

-- Pattaya One 2012-01-20

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[LennyW]

There will also be a U-turn constructed in the middle of the tunnel with and island adorned with dolphin sculptures.

I guess that will account for 700 Million of the proposed budget, very expensive these dolphin sculptures you know!!!!

[Mobi]

"There will also be a U-turn constructed in the middle of the tunnel "

Don't you just love it? Thailand's never ending love affairs with U-turns.

The mayor had to make sure that he reassured everyone on this point otherwise the project might never be able to proceed.

So just in case you are in the middle of the tunnel and you suddenly realise you are going the wrong way, don't panic! A handily placed U-turn is on hand.

Mind you, I admit that I too love them, as at my advanced age I often forget where I am going and have to do a U-turn and go back home until I can remember...

[Mobi]

There will also be a U-turn constructed in the middle of the tunnel with and island adorned with dolphin sculptures.

I guess that will account for 700 Million of the proposed budget, very expensive these dolphin sculptures you know!!!!

The U-turn alone will probably cost 100million...

[TheWalkingMan]

420 meter tunnel and u-turn is needed?

[saengsureeya]

Luckily the Thai government postponed the THB 400 billion high-speed-rail-connections throughout Thailand.

We all may be happy that there are air-vents, sculptures, camera's and all sorts......but what about water-pumps during rainy season? Or will the water be used for the fire-extinguisher?

[Spalpeen]

What a weird proposal. No mention of cost here but tunnels always work out to be the most expensive option. In fact they typically end up costing around twice the original estimate. Based on the Thappraya Rd., Jomtien 2nd Rd. farce construction would likely take a decade. Construction would not be by tunneling machine, like the Channel Tunnel, but rather by cut-and-cover. This means digging up about 2km of Sukhumvit Rd. and having years of traffic chaos.

The u-turn suggestion is hilarious. In a tunnel with just two lanes on each side that would mean traffic stopping in the fast lane on one side before u-turning across two lanes on the other. The fire extinguishers would be getting plenty of use.

"Traffic is one of the main obstacles to tourism" the Mayor said. Absolutely, Mayor. And what tourists want is a proper system of public transport, with bus and tram routes, instead of the current third world system of converted pick up trucks and small motor bikes.

[prefabs]

Would have been better if they had stuck to the original proposal of bringing the Pattaya BYPASS in at Chaiyapreuk Road. The new road in should be renamed the Naklua Bypass

[RabC]

Will this be built before or after the mono rail, just The Simpsons have already done the mono rail but not too sure about a tunnel episode yet.......

Me a Cynic?????

Edited January 25, 2012 by RabC

[Mobi]

Will this be built before or after the mono rail, just The Simpsons have already done the mono rail but not too sure about a tunnel episode yet.......

Me a Cynic?????

I heard that the u-turn will be built first so that the road workers can get home quicker when they knock off work at night.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[soihok]

What a weird proposal. No mention of cost here but tunnels always work out to be the most expensive option. In fact they typically end up costing around twice the original estimate. Based on the Thappraya Rd., Jomtien 2nd Rd. farce construction would likely take a decade. Construction would not be by tunneling machine, like the Channel Tunnel, but rather by cut-and-cover. This means digging up about 2km of Sukhumvit Rd. and having years of traffic chaos.

The u-turn suggestion is hilarious. In a tunnel with just two lanes on each side that would mean traffic stopping in the fast lane on one side before u-turning across two lanes on the other. The fire extinguishers would be getting plenty of use.

"Traffic is one of the main obstacles to tourism" the Mayor said. Absolutely, Mayor. And what tourists want is a proper system of public transport, with bus and tram routes, instead of the current third world system of converted pick up trucks and small motor bikes.

It would be cut and cover and a total nightmare for all concerned.

TBM's are expensive to buy, run and staff. I know as I work with them.

For the love of Jesus, don't put a U turn in there,,,,, carnage city.

[Spalpeen]

It would be cut and cover and a total nightmare for all concerned.

TBM's are expensive to buy, run and staff. I know as I work with them.

For the love of Jesus, don't put a U turn in there,,,,, carnage city.

You didn't work on the Channel Tunnel by any chance?

[soihok]

It would be cut and cover and a total nightmare for all concerned.

TBM's are expensive to buy, run and staff. I know as I work with them.

For the love of Jesus, don't put a U turn in there,,,,, carnage city.

You didn't work on the Channel Tunnel by any chance?

No mate, but I have worked with a lot of guys that have.

[soihok]

If a TBM were to be used (20 metre TBM's dont exist - yet), it would be twin tunnels.

Distruption to traffic would be no where near as depressing as digging a whole stretch of Sukhumvit Road up, but that seems to be the plan.

Oh dear.

[Chang_paarp]

Can we put up a consortium to get exclusive rights to "clear" the carnage accidents from the U turns and the rest of the tunnel? I am sure our donation and fees will help with construction costs.

[saengsureeya]

Will this be built before or after the mono rail, just The Simpsons have already done the mono rail but not too sure about a tunnel episode yet.......

Me a Cynic?????

Christ.....forgot about that lunatic idea.........I'm afraid that all projects will be initiated before the current Mayor will leave his seat; of course he will charge the budget with a few millions for consultancy fee.

[CGW]

They recently completed a very similiar project in Khon Kaen, it was years late, total chaos and vastly over budget, obviously an ideal project for Pattaya.

If they had continued the overhead road from where it now stops at Chonburi (highway 3) as was the original plan for it to run all the way through to Rayong none of this would be necesary!