Phuket's first underpass to spur new traffic woes

Phuket Gazette

The Highways Department has warned motorists to avoid the area when lanes in both directions will be shut down for work to begin on Phuket’s first underpass next month. Image: Highways Dept

An artist’s impression of the completed underpass in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping complex. Image: Highways Dept

PHUKET: -- Motorists have been warned to expect major delays when construction begins next month on a 599-million-baht underpass at the Darasamuth Junction, on the bypass road near the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall.

Chavalert Lertchavanakul, Project Manager at the Department of Highways’ Bureau of Bridge Construction in Bangkok, broke the news at a meeting in Phuket to finalize areas of responsibility with local officials.

Mr Chavalert confirmed that Thai construction giant, Italian-Thai Development Co Ltd (Ital-Thai) has been chosen as the contractor.

“The contract stipulates that the work must be completed within 720 days starting from the day after signing. I have been told that the Minister of Transport [Charupong Ruangsuwan] wants the contract signed before the next fiscal budget year begins on October 1, so we expect work to start next month,” he added.

The meeting on Wednesday, held at the Highways Department office in Phuket Town, was called to confirm which office heads in Phuket would coordinate with Ital-Thai in building the underpass.

Among the issues discussed were the relocation of utility poles and the installation of storm drains.

“The complete work plan for the project is to be unveiled on September 18,” Mr Chavalert said.

The project will extend 800 meters from beginning to end, taking 250 workers just under two years to build. The entire project would require about 50,000 cubic meters of concrete, he added.

In order to build the structure, the company will need to close both inside lanes on either side of the underpass, thus leaving only one lane each way open to traffic heading northbound and southbound.

“People who use that junction should avoid the area while the construction is underway. They should expect delays and use alternative routes if possible,” Mr Chavalert said.

Asked whether motorbikes and salaeng (motorbikes with sidecars) would be allowed to use the underpass, he said it was a matter for local authorities to decide.

Regarding flood prevention measures, Mr Chavalert said that three pumping stations would be installed inside the underpass.

Ital-Thai, Thailand’s largest construction company, built the recently completed Srisoonthorn Bridge that carries traffic northbound off the island. It has also been selected to build the mega-project port at Dawei in Myanmar at a cost of US$8.6bn, or about 268 billion baht.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...woes-16879.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-10

begins next month on a 599-million-baht underpass at the

What an odd amount. Like a supermarket price point. Only 599 million NOT 600 million.

Avoid the area for two years?

Sounds horrendous. Two years of traffic hell at probably the busiest junction in Phuket.

guess a flyover is just to easy. 2 years of nightmare and then finish in the rainy season.

i look forward to it

flyover is just to easy.

i look forward to the first havey rain.

Avoid the area for two years?

Not 2 years. Only 720 days.

Seriously three lanes of traffic on the central section with no physical barrier separating them, not sure that will work. At least they have 720 days to teach Thai drivers about lane discipline.

The end result should be worth it

The end result should be worth it

The eventual impact on both the North (Sam Kong) and South (Naka Road) junctions will be interesting that's for sure. You'll be able to get to these long queues even quicker!

Will you need a submarine after heavy rain?

At least they are getting rid of some more of those horrid trees. Not so long ago Phuket was covered in them! Leaves dropping everywhere. What an eye-sore! Looks much better now with all these shiny new building developments and well planned roads conveniently criss-crossing the landscape.

begins next month on a 599-million-baht underpass at the

What an odd amount. Like a supermarket price point. Only 599 million NOT 600 million.

An idiotic numberplay, considering the majority of public-funded, large-scale infrastructure projects around the world are normally over budget.

just removing the uturn possibilities would fix all traffic problems

Sounds horrendous. Two years of traffic hell at probably the busiest junction in Phuket.

Enought to make you leave the island!!!!

I am seeing a footpath here? I am sure when it say "artist’s impression" there is usually a disclaimer: 'the actual realisation may differ substantially in design and layout'.

dont forget that one of those lane will be used for parking.

Can't walk all the way to the elevator from inside central, thats not hiso.

748,750 Baht/m. Sounds like good money & 720 days seems excessively long. I would like to know where all these alternate routes are that can handle large volumes of vehicles. If coming from Chalong to Phuket Town one can use Chao Fa East or divert down the Naka road from West. If coming from Kathu take the back road to Lotus but then you get jammed in the narrow streets of Sam Khong which are already jammed during peak hours. Phuket Town is desperately in need of wider roads yet there does not seem to be any planning for this. New buildings are still being built right up to the kerb. They managed it with Bangkok & Phoonpon roads, why not elsewhere?

748,750 Baht/m. Sounds like good money & 720 days seems excessively long. I would like to know where all these alternate routes are that can handle large volumes of vehicles. If coming from Chalong to Phuket Town one can use Chao Fa East or divert down the Naka road from West. If coming from Kathu take the back road to Lotus but then you get jammed in the narrow streets of Sam Khong which are already jammed during peak hours. Phuket Town is desperately in need of wider roads yet there does not seem to be any planning for this. New buildings are still being built right up to the kerb. They managed it with Bangkok & Phoonpon roads, why not elsewhere?

Well after subtracting 50K/day for labour, 250K for materials and machines, that doesn't leave a whole lot of profit . Why not build overpasses/flyovers at both the Central junction and the Lotus junction which should cost less that the 599 million being quoted for one underpass?

748,750 Baht/m. Sounds like good money & 720 days seems excessively long. I would like to know where all these alternate routes are that can handle large volumes of vehicles. If coming from Chalong to Phuket Town one can use Chao Fa East or divert down the Naka road from West. If coming from Kathu take the back road to Lotus but then you get jammed in the narrow streets of Sam Khong which are already jammed during peak hours. Phuket Town is desperately in need of wider roads yet there does not seem to be any planning for this. New buildings are still being built right up to the kerb. They managed it with Bangkok & Phoonpon roads, why not elsewhere?

Well after subtracting 50K/day for labour, 250K for materials and machines, that doesn't leave a whole lot of profit . Why not build overpasses/flyovers at both the Central junction and the Lotus junction which should cost less that the 599 million being quoted for one underpass?

Concrete costs alone will be 100 million & even if another 100 million for steel it still leaves plenty to go around. I seriously doubt they will need or use 250 workers & I feel you grossly underestimate the cost of labour if based on the minimum wage of 300 per day plus cost of housing, transport to job. If the employer was fair (stop laughing) average wage cost of 250 workers at 500 per day adds another 90 million. So, there is still 309 million for machinery, management, design, other materials & profit.