Airport Bypass Road Completed to Route 1020

[sceadugenga]

I called into the main TOT office today and noticed the traffic lights were working further down on the Thoeng road.

A brief investigation revealed you can drive right through to the airport.

Us southerly dwellers can now bypass Chiang Rai completely when coming from the Airport, turning right on 1020 and coming out at the
Super Highway crossroads.

[boomerangutang]

You want to miss Chiang Rai and the gridlock on the Super Hwy? Why?

Today, at the main crossroads, where the Mengrei statue is: I counted 13 cars and 2 trucks going through just one red light. Multiply that by 4320 (a light change every 20 seconds) and you get an idea of how many vehicles go through red lights in each day and night - at just one intersection in little ol' Chiang Rai.

[toybits]

This road will also have the very first overpass! Concrete piles being hammered into the ground already. They should consider making overpasses in other intersections as well - e.g. See yeak Mae Korn, and Ha Yaek Por Khun.

[sceadugenga]

It seems to be heading even further south, where would that be going I wonder?

Also what's the massive construction underway on the highway next to the wholesale produce market?

[villagefarang]

I sure wish they would fix that section of road heading to the airport. One lane is a moonscape.

[boomerangutang]

This road will also have the very first overpass! Concrete piles being hammered into the ground already. They should consider making overpasses in other intersections as well - e.g. See yeak Mae Korn, and Ha Yaek Por Khun.

Ever since I've started residing in Chiang Rai, I've suggested an overpass at Hi Ek, where the King Mengrei statue is. Even just 1 lane each way, going north and south, would alleviate a large portion of the gridlock there. Additionally, a large roundabout could be made, under the overpass. Cynics would say Thais could never learn to use a roundabout, because it entails a modicum of courtesy, but I think it would work, albeit clumsily. Imagine that largest downtown intersection with no traffic lights, and traffic moving at a slow steady pace from all directions. Could happen, if gov't heads wake from their brain addled myopia.

I sure wish they would fix that section of road heading to the airport. One lane is a moonscape.

If you want to see a crappy road, getting torn asunder, check out soi 5 going west from Ban Nam Lat - towards the 2 Buddha caves and Boomerang. At many places along that stretch, if a vehicle doesn't slow to less than walking pace, chances are its windows will shimmy loose and its bumpers rattled off.

Meanwhile, our sage city fathers are tearing up decent stretches of the Super Hwy (north of C.Rai) and replacing it with a washboard cement top. Ever wonder why the seldom used long windy road up to Doi Tung is in such fine condition? I would tell you why, but it might be against the forum rules.

[sceadugenga]

The new clocktower could be classed as a roundabout and handles a reasonable amount of traffic for it's size without too much drama.

I seldom choose to go into town at peak hour though so I'm not really qualified to comment.

[DonaldBattles]

I am told by a friend who is a friend of the planning commission that there will be another bypass on the west side near the prison that will extend to the main Chiang Mai road. Further, the bypass from the airport will be extended to connect with the road from Chiang Kong for the Chinese trucks and tourist to Bangkok and Laem Chabang.

[Tomtomtom69]

I am told by a friend who is a friend of the planning commission that there will be another bypass on the west side near the prison that will extend to the main Chiang Mai road. Further, the bypass from the airport will be extended to connect with the road from Chiang Kong for the Chinese trucks and tourist to Bangkok and Laem Chabang.

Chinese trucks can't enter Thailand only personal cars can. I think you mean the road will be connected from Chiang Khong to enable more efficient cross-border movements between Thailand and Laos via the new Friendship Bridge.

[DonaldBattles]

With the new bridge and ASEAN it is expected that both trucks and cars from China will be able enter. It is expensive for them to change trucks at the Lao border. The big problem is Thailand drives on the wrong side of the road. Chinese drivers are bad enough trying to copy Thais and drive down the middle of the road. Lations are driving on the correct side of the road.

[villagefarang]

I have heard of a top secret plan to bring the train, not just to Chiang Khong, but to Chiang Rai as well. Of course this is a recent development and we can’t say anything or land prices will go up.

[DonaldBattles]

There is no practical reason for a train to come to Chiang Rai as rice is hauled away by the rich middle men by truck. Based on how the Thai train to Chiang Mai operates with 13 derailments in 2 months you could never get to Bangkok let alone Laem Chabang.

Thailand and Laos will do everything they can to accommodate the Chinese. Forget about the laws they can be waived or changed when it suits their needs. The Chinese have the money and Thais want it.

I might add that when I was working in Kunming and Jinghong there are few or little nothing Thai made in the stores. There is a long way to go before the trade is balanced.

[sceadugenga]

Ahem, the correct side of the road to drive on is the left.

If certain barbaric nations choose to drive on the other side there's no good blaming countries where people are taught to drive properly.

I mean, you're not going to tell me the French and Italians got it right are you?

[boomerangutang]

The new clocktower could be classed as a roundabout and handles a reasonable amount of traffic for it's size without too much drama.

I seldom choose to go into town at peak hour though so I'm not really qualified to comment.

The roundabout at the gold clock tower functions ok, even though is very small. I've even seen Thai drivers there slow or stop to let others go.

I am told by a friend who is a friend of the planning commission that there will be another bypass on the west side near the prison that will extend to the main Chiang Mai road. Further, the bypass from the airport will be extended to connect with the road from Chiang Kong for the Chinese trucks and tourist to Bangkok and Laem Chabang.

I've heard about plans for that western by-pass hwy for over ten years. It's supposed to be 4 lanes (2 each way). Personally, I hope they don't build it, because it courses right alongside 2 of my rural properties - like 'connect the dots.' If I was Thai, I'd be praying it get done, in order to land my properties on a busy road and ramp up value. But alas, am not and never will be Thai. I love nature, peace & quiet. All things that highways aren't.

If you look at a planning map, you'll see that proposed hwy makes nearly a beeline from the new prison to Rajabat U. Food for thought. Not only would it be a little-used route, it would entail a new large bridge and one or two Km would have to be elevated because that region is within a meter of Mae Kok's flood level. Altogether a bad plan, though, as I say, I'm subjective about it.

[DonaldBattles]

Everyone wants a road to use as long as it does not go through their property. Currently there is a new bridge either under construction or about start near the elephant camp on the river. Big roads and bridges have the potential for a lot of more corruption money. Filling potholes in roads already built is out of the question. These roads will continue to be built. WHY, THE CHINESE WILL NEED TO USE THEM. The Chinese can build an entire new 10m people city in 2 years maybe they will decide to do that across from the Golden Triangle.

[sceadugenga]

Not to worry Don, by the time they get here they will have probably reverted to Capitalism, they're not doing too badly now as the US balance of payments with them would indicate.

http://www.economy.com/dismal/article_free.asp?cid=112578

[boomerangutang]

Everyone wants a road to use as long as it does not go through their property. Currently there is a new bridge either under construction or about start near the elephant camp on the river. Big roads and bridges have the potential for a lot of more corruption money. Filling potholes in roads already built is out of the question. These roads will continue to be built. WHY, THE CHINESE WILL NEED TO USE THEM. The Chinese can build an entire new 10m people city in 2 years maybe they will decide to do that across from the Golden Triangle.

They're already getting going on making Chiang Rai lots bigger. C.Rai will be double in size in about 5 years. My estimate is the lion's share of that investment is Chinese or at least Chinese-Thai money. Two indications: It's all on flat land, and there are no provisions for parks. If flat bottom land keeps getting filled-in (after farmers are paid a pittance to move away), then there's less land for food crops. I wouldn't be surprised if Thailand is an importer of rice in 10 years - after having been #1 exporter up until recently. I believe now it's #3.

[Tomtomtom69]

With the new bridge and ASEAN it is expected that both trucks and cars from China will be able enter. It is expensive for them to change trucks at the Lao border. The big problem is Thailand drives on the wrong side of the road. Chinese drivers are bad enough trying to copy Thais and drive down the middle of the road. Lations are driving on the correct side of the road.

I don't believe that will happen because protectionism in the Thai trucking industry is a big issue and the Thais don't want competition from anyone else - as mentioned in another thread not even Lao and Malaysian trucks make it to Bangkok - they generally only travel within 100-200km inside Thailand while Thailand handles virtually all Thai-Lao and Thailand to China and Thailand to Vietnam freight via Laos (not least because the Lao trucking industry is too small and inefficient). ASEAN by the way has nothing to do with China even if there may be policy changes that will affect China, but I have read a recent article suggesting Thai and other ASEAN driver licences will be accepted for driving inside China suggesting that perhaps two way car transit will be allowed without restrictions i.e. Thai and Malaysian cars going up to China and Chinese ones down to SE Asia, perhaps the same could happen for trucks but I wouldn't hold my breath. After all, Mexican trucks can't enter the USA as the American trucking unions don't want to lose their jobs to cheaper Mexican labor.

What do you mean "Thailand drives on the wrong side of the road". No it doesn't...China does. Anyway, currently China forces Thai trucks to switch vehicles at the Lao/Chinese border (or maybe in Jinghong in some cases, according to what I've read) and that to me is an example of Chinese protectionism that slows down transport and drives up costs (why can't Thai trucks just drive from Bangkok to Shanghai right?) No different from the same being required on the Thai side but I think the Thai authorities won't allow Chinese trucks into Thailand because the Thai transport unions will be opposed to it and secondly the Chinese drive on the wrong side of the road. Plus how will they be able to communicate? Chinese truckers can barely speak or read English let alone Thai so that will present a big problem in itself. As it stands, the Thais and Cambodians are reluctant to allow each other's trucks into their respective territories and when they do (usually it's Thai trucks going to Cambodia) special requirements such as needing a Cambodian driver or Cambodian driver's licence (which almost no Thai truck drivers possess) and only being allowed to go to certain locations to drop off goods are imposed. I'm pretty certain there would be a multitude of problems if Chinese truck drivers were allowed to enter Thailand but usually third party country's trucks can't cross now so I don't expect that to change in the near future. ASEAN may bring some changes, who knows, but China isn't part of ASEAN so these changes shouldn't really affect them directly.

Right now Chinese cars can already enter Thailand so I don't see what will change as a result of ASEAN. BTW the Thai authorities generally permit cars and motorcycles registered in any foreign country to enter Thailand temporarily for tourism purposes - Laos is quite similar. What I would really like to know is how will ASEAN handle cross border movements by cars registered in member states and will they finally allow third country crossings i.e. a Thai car crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam or a Malaysian car crossing from Thailand to Myanmar? And I am talking about allowing such crossings freely without requiring an accompanying convoy or prior permission.

Edited September 7, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Garry]

I sure wish they would fix that section of road heading to the airport. One lane is a moonscape.

Very similar thoughts myself. The road is getting to be a bit of a nightmare for road users. My SUV can handle dropping off into the odd pot hole, but some are the size that they are dangerous to motorcycles and low cars and to add car drivers trying to avoiding potholes are at times clashing with oncoming traffic. Crazy

[Tomtomtom69]

There is no practical reason for a train to come to Chiang Rai as rice is hauled away by the rich middle men by truck. Based on how the Thai train to Chiang Mai operates with 13 derailments in 2 months you could never get to Bangkok let alone Laem Chabang.

Thailand and Laos will do everything they can to accommodate the Chinese. Forget about the laws they can be waived or changed when it suits their needs. The Chinese have the money and Thais want it.

I might add that when I was working in Kunming and Jinghong there are few or little nothing Thai made in the stores. There is a long way to go before the trade is balanced.

When were you working in Kunming and Jinghong, 50 years ago? There are PLENTY of Thai products in Kunming these days, plenty (ok maybe there could be more, but I can tell you it's not hard to find Thai made cookies, dried fruit, fresh fruit, candies, curry mixes and even beer, although Beer Lao is much more widely available it seems). Carrefour, Wal-mart, the Wenlie Jie area and all fruit markets all stock Thai products. Nearly all mangosteen, durian etc. is imported from Thailand, the Chinese love the taste of Thai fruit and China is mostly too cold to grow these tropical fruits anyway.

To me you sound like an apologist for the Chinese. No way the Thais (and even the Laotians) will knee tow to the Chinese. The Thais in particular have too much pride - why would they be so protectionist all these years and then suddenly open the floodgates to foreigners (who happen to be Chinese), just because they have a bit of money to spend? Land ownership will still be restricted to the Thais for years to come and while I don't know if ASEAN i.e. AEC 2015 will change that, as the Chinese are not part of ASEAN they will automatically be excluded. However, nowhere have I read anything to suggest that other ASEAN nationals will be able to purchase Thai land come 2015/2016.

Edited September 7, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

Everyone wants a road to use as long as it does not go through their property. Currently there is a new bridge either under construction or about start near the elephant camp on the river. Big roads and bridges have the potential for a lot of more corruption money. Filling potholes in roads already built is out of the question. These roads will continue to be built. WHY, THE CHINESE WILL NEED TO USE THEM. The Chinese can build an entire new 10m people city in 2 years maybe they will decide to do that across from the Golden Triangle.

They're already getting going on making Chiang Rai lots bigger. C.Rai will be double in size in about 5 years. My estimate is the lion's share of that investment is Chinese or at least Chinese-Thai money. Two indications: It's all on flat land, and there are no provisions for parks. If flat bottom land keeps getting filled-in (after farmers are paid a pittance to move away), then there's less land for food crops. I wouldn't be surprised if Thailand is an importer of rice in 10 years - after having been #1 exporter up until recently. I believe now it's #3.

Maybe, but that rice won't be coming from China. Perhaps from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam or India. The latter two are now the biggest exporters of rice in the world.

[Tomtomtom69]

Everyone wants a road to use as long as it does not go through their property. Currently there is a new bridge either under construction or about start near the elephant camp on the river. Big roads and bridges have the potential for a lot of more corruption money. Filling potholes in roads already built is out of the question. These roads will continue to be built. WHY, THE CHINESE WILL NEED TO USE THEM. The Chinese can build an entire new 10m people city in 2 years maybe they will decide to do that across from the Golden Triangle.

What makes you think the Lao government will allow them to do that? There is already growing anti-Chinese sentiment in Laos as locals are starting to realize that they are being swamped by these foreigners from the north in their own country. The controversy about the high-speed rail link between Kunming and Vientiane in 2011 where the Chinese contractor that was supposed to build it wanted 5km of land either side of the tracks along the whole 421km track really ruffled feathers in Vientiane where the Lao leadership then decided to suspend the agreement, with the Chinese contractor claiming "lack of profitability" if the rail link were built. Now a new agreement has been proposed with a new contractor, also Chinese, that won't be asking for any special land claims but will simply build the line and get out.

Anyway, the Chinese can build a 10m city inside China if they like, they still have plenty of land there. No need to start something in a sovereign country like Laos. And judging by ghost cities such as Chenggong near Kunming and even the original casino zone in Boten, Laos, directly opposite China's Mohan which was forced to close, if they can't even get people to move to Chenggong then what hope would they have of building megacities elsewhere, and for what purpose? Your suggestion about that happening in the Golden Triangle is thus absolute nonsense. Besides, the Chinese casino there is already up and running.

The Thais will build roads for the Thais to use, first and foremost. Thailand will always have more Thai vehicles on its roads than foreign registered ones, which are generally only seen near its borders anyway (this is no different to any other country on Earth). So the reason these new roads are going up first and foremost is for Thai vehicles, cars and trucks, to travel between Chiang Rai and Laos. Chinese cars and Lao cars/trucks are only a secondary consideration - besides, for Lao and Chinese vehicles to make it to Chiang Rai there has to be decent infrastructure on their sides of the border too.

[boomerangutang]

Chinese have a propensity for building giant concrete cities everywhere they can. That trend will spill over borders as easily as stretching out super highways, and their skills at owning nearly every large business in Thailand.

[DonaldBattles]

The Chinese have the power to do what they want in Lao, Burma and Thailand. It will be very easy for them to have a big influence from Yunnan to Laem Chabang. How they get their trucks there will be up to them and how much they are willing to pay Thailand and Lao.

Many are waiting until the ASEAN Program comes into effect in 2015. Will Thailalnd open the dooors and abide by the treaty?

Let us not forget the influence of the drug trade that brings the Chinese a lot of money in Burma for the raw materials. China is a 4 way partner in this business and it has not slowed down in the last 70 years. Chiang Rai will continue to be the conduit for these drugs. A person who previously worked with the DEA estimated that 500m per week of drugs flow through the conduit. Whatever happened to the 9 soldiers that were arrested in conjunction with killing the 10 Chinese drug boat people.

The Chinese have a big interest in many things in this area and were the driving force for the new bridge and highways. With respect to ethics they take what they want where they want.

Northern Lao and Chiang Rai will undergo a big change created by the Chinese and it is well under way.

After finishing my 8 years of work and business in China in 2011 I decided that it is not for me. China is no place for a small foreign business person. My work was in Shandong and Yunnan Provinces. I was warned many times by Chinese associates that the people in business could not be trusted and they finally got the best of me.

This is Part of a Poem by Rudyard Kipling.

Now it is not good for the Christian's health to hustle the Asian brown, For the Christian riles, and the Asian smiles and he weareth the Christian down; And the end of the fight is a tombstone white with the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear: "A Fool lies here who tried to hustle the East."

How true it was.

[mumbojumbo]

Ahem, the correct side of the road to drive on is the left.

If certain barbaric nations choose to drive on the other side there's no good blaming countries where people are taught to drive properly.

I mean, you're not going to tell me the French and Italians got it right are you?

[Garry]

Ahem, the correct side of the road to drive on is the left.

If certain barbaric nations choose to drive on the other side there's no good blaming countries where people are taught to drive properly.

I mean, you're not going to tell me the French and Italians got it right are you?

maps_that_will_help_you_make_sense_of_the_world_08.jpg

Working the Middle East (RH side) and coming back home to Thailand (LH side), it's like flipping a swtich in my head to the correct side to drive. Mind you in the Middle East back waters, they drive on any side of the road..dumbasses.

[JAG]

Well looking at that map it certainly seems that they drive on the left in all the important bits of the world!

Arriving Chiang Rai next week!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ripstanley]

I sure wish they would fix that section of road heading to the airport. One lane is a moonscape.

I travelled the new road to the airport on Thursday and returned today. Great for me coming from and to Phayao. It speeds up my trip to the Airport. The above road mentioned is now being upgraded. It looks like they are going to make it two lanes in either direction. When it is completed it will be great. I would say it would be at least 6 months before completion. Hopefully quicker but probably longer.

Edit

It is still very rough trip

Edited November 16, 2013 by ripstanley

[ripstanley]

I sure wish they would fix that section of road heading to the airport. One lane is a moonscape.

I travelled the new road to the airport on Thursday and returned today. Great for me coming from and to Phayao. It speeds up my trip to the Airport. The above road mentioned is now being upgraded. It looks like they are going to make it two lanes in either direction. When it is completed it will be great. I would say it would be at least 6 months before completion. Hopefully quicker but probably longer.

Edit

It is still very rough trip

Travelled the road again today on our way to Mae Sai. They still have not finished. It appears it could be sometime off yet.

[ARGUSEYE]

Without wanting to hijack the thread.... I find the argument between TomTom and Donald B very intersting. Donals argues the Chinesa are a threat to the smaller countries in the south, Tom thinks basically they are not (specially for Thailand) and can be held at bay

Now... I hope and wish TomTom is right, but I fear Donald is correct. I have been a few times up and down through the corridor Ch Rai - Lao - Mohan - Jinghong - Kunming, and what I see is frightening!

The Chinese seem to be in the process of taking over everything.

The biggest Hotels in Luang Nam Tha??... Chinese.

Every thing with branches and leaves on between Huay Xai and Jinghong is a rubber tree... For the Chinese car industry, Chinese owned.

All the valleys in N Lao are planted with Banana plantations.... Chinese owned and managed. The Chinese market is gigantic! The trucks can be in Chungking within 36hrs. And what a highway that is!

....And in Thailand?? Earlier this year I was in the mountain resort town of Pai, and I could not believe my eyes: Just about every backpacker there was Chinese.... All guest houses full, sorry sir!

The story about the Ch M university being ransacked by chinese due to that silly movie was well publicised I think.

Even in Pattaya, where I am at the moment, the Chinese are taking over, at least the mass market. White Chinese tour busses "Sun Long" all over the place. The drivers still seem to be Thai, but the tour guides defenitely are Chinese (against the law really). The tour companies and the hotels they stay in might be joint ventures Thai/Chinese, but I bet the Thai part is also really Chinese.

It's sad, but I think DonalsBates is right: "The Chinese have the money and the Thais want it"