New Phuket roads aimed at easing east-west city traffic

[Lite Beer]

New Phuket roads aimed at easing east-west city traffic
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut today (January 17) inspected three new road projects aimed at easing traffic between the east and west sides of Phuket Town, and taking some of the load off Chao Fa West Rd and the Central Festival intersection.

The first new piece of road, long awaited, is a low concrete double bridge across the mangroves that line the sides of Klong Koh Phee, in the Saphan Hin area. The bridge, currently under construction, will link the end of Sakdidech Soi 7 and the road next to the Phuket Land Transport Office.

Work on the B176-million, 620-metre-long bridges began at the and of August last year and they will open to traffic on August 20 next year.

The other end of Sakdidetch Soi 7 meets Chao Fah West Rd opposite the Software Park. Here, the T junction is to be turned into a crossroads with a new 763-metre road being built from the Software Park through the Chao Fah Tin Mine to Chao Fah City Rd. The owners of the tin mine, Anuphas, have already donated land for the purpose.

This road, which will have to span a tin mine at the beginning, is expected to cost B70 million.

Land around part of the road has already been leveled, thanks to a B10 million budget allocated in preparation for the Asian Beach Games next year, when the site will be used for the paramotoring competition. The budget for this has yet to be approved.

The third new road, 1.25 kilometres long, is already under construction. It branches off from Chao Fah City Rd, and joins Vichit Songkram Rd opposite Klong Bang Yai Rd. Cost is B9.3 million, as no bridges have to be built. It is expected to be complete at the beginning of April this year.

The Governor noted that 53,000 vehicles a day travel along Chao Fah West Rd between Chalong and the top of the bypass.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/new-phuket-roads-aimed-at-easing-east-west-city-traffic-44088.php

-- Phuket News 2014-01-17

[phuketsub]

None of the roads involved are in "The City" (eg: Phuket Town).

They are in Wichit District.

"The other end of Sakdidetch Soi 7" refers to a section of new, but horrifically constructed, road that bears no name more than five years after its completion.

This is because it marks the border between Phuket City and Wichit, the administrations of which apparently don't know/don't care and/or are too retarded to get together and name it.

There is a huge history to the "mangrove flyover" that is unaddressed in this column.

It would be nice to know, for a start, if it is the same project plan that was "approved in principal" by our beloved Yingluck during her last (and I mean 'last') visit to the island...

[KarenBravo]

About time they completed the little bit of road that needs work between Chalong and Nanai.

Can't believe the forestry department refused to permit it because it is higher that 80 metres above sea level.

What about the rest of the coast road?

[Valentine]

If this all they have under construction then Phuket is heading for far worse traffic jams than we have now. Buying up land in Phuket Town to widen roads, it worked around the Bangkok Rd area, should be happening as we speak but instead I see new structures going up right next to existing streets. Take the T junction at Samkhong for example, it is desperate need of widening. Then there is the infamous Chalong Circle but that is a whole subject on its own.

[madmitch]

They could have done with the road between Muang Chaofa Road and Vichit Songkram Road being operational during the underpass building works.

[Valentine]

They could have done with the road between Muang Chaofa Road and Vichit Songkram Road being operational during the underpass building works.

That would have required some logical forward planning. It should also be obvious to anyone but a blind man that Chao Fa West directly after the underpass & all the way through to Software Park needs to be widened. Remember how long it took to get the T junction by S Park semi functional (they still need to get rid of the house on the corner) & the the famous water tanks on the road to Rawai. Based on just those 2 examples the land buying process should have started long ago. It took years to get it done in Thalang but at least it did get done even though it should have been wider.

[Carrerakiss]

It's all just reshuffling the traffic jams. There are just too many vehicles, period. I dread to think what is going to happen further down toward Chalong, once the Festival intersection underpass is operational. The traffic will just pile up as it flows out of the tunnel.

It would take a very radical rethink of island transportation to make any difference, and we all know that is not going to happen. Even the little things cannot be implemented.

But what is for sure, is that budgets will be totally spent on something. That is where the money can be skimmed.

[JetsetBkk]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

[Valentine]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

??? Looks OK to me. BTW the road linking Chao Fa City Rd through to beside Makro you will actually have to turn right off the city road to access it. The right turn comes up pretty quickly after a blind curve.

[LivinginKata]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

Looks quite close to North oriented to me ??

[andreandre]

It's all just reshuffling the traffic jams. There are just too many vehicles, period. I dread to think what is going to happen further down toward Chalong, once the Festival intersection underpass is operational. The traffic will just pile up as it flows out of the tunnel.

It would take a very radical rethink of island transportation to make any difference, and we all know that is not going to happen. Even the little things cannot be implemented.

But what is for sure, is that budgets will be totally spent on something. That is where the money can be skimmed.

The traffic will just pile up as it flows out of the tunnel.

IMO "flow" will never happen on this project..

flow - definition of flow by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and ...

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flow

a. To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity

[JetsetBkk]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

Looks quite close to North oriented to me ??

North exactly bisects the two roads either side of Central Festival:

They've got Chalermprakiat road the wrong side of north and Vichit Songkram the wrong side of east!

I was trying to figure out what the red line on the extreme right of their image was, and realised it is indeed the road through/over the mangrove swamp! So it is much too far north.

The map needs rotating about 25 degrees clockwise.

I also noticed that someone at Google Earth has decided to rename Chalermprakiat road as Thepkrassatri road!

I suppose there must be a way of telling them they've got it wrong.

.

Edited January 18, 2014 by JetsetBkk

[LivinginKata]

^
Yes, Ok JetsetBkk. You are correct. I did say 'near enough'. Do you really think the average punter really cares or knows where north is ? As for me, yes I care and I know

[andreandre]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

I have a feeling that you may be confusing true north with magnetic north.

[JetsetBkk]

^

Yes, Ok JetsetBkk. You are correct. I did say 'near enough'. Do you really think the average punter really cares or knows where north is ? As for me, yes I care and I know

I think Thais have a propensity for not caring which way north is.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12424.html

[JetsetBkk]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

??? Looks OK to me. BTW the road linking Chao Fa City Rd through to beside Makro you will actually have to turn right off the city road to access it. The right turn comes up pretty quickly after a blind curve.

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

[andreandre]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

I have a feeling that you may be confusing true north with magnetic north.

Out of curiosity i checked Phukets difference between true north and magnetic north [variation] and is about 32 degrees west.

Confirms google map, is correct as are all maps orientated true north ..your pointer shows magnetic north [about 25 deg ]so as you said turn the map clockwise would indeed show your interpretation of north [magnetic north] is correct in theory..but not in reality as all maps show true north.

Here endith the lesson

Not a big deal at all really..i mean for most people going to Bangkok is north, going to Malaysia is south..good enough.

Edited January 18, 2014 by andreandre

[JetsetBkk]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

I have a feeling that you may be confusing true north with magnetic north.

Out of curiosity i checked Phukets difference between true north and magnetic north [variation] and is about 32 degrees west.

Confirms google map, is correct as are all maps orientated true north ..your pointer shows magnetic north [about 25 deg ]so as you said turn the map clockwise would indeed show your interpretation of north [magnetic north] is correct in theory..but not in reality as all maps show true north.

Here endith the lesson

Not a big deal at all really..i mean for most people going to Bangkok is north, going to Malaysia is south..good enough.

I think you contradict yourself.

You say "Confirms google map, is correct as are all maps orientated true north"

So the Google map is orientated true north.

But my image is from Google Earth and my red pointer is exactly aligned with north on Google Earth.

So my red line is pointing true north, but you then say "your pointer shows magnetic north".

So which is it? I say Google Earth shows true north as does my red line.

By the way, after 5 minutes of Googling:

"Magnetic declination, sometimes called magnetic variation, is the angle between magnetic north and true north. Declination is considered positive east of true north and negative when west."

Current magnetic declination for Phuket is a staggering: 0° 37' 14" W

Where did you get "32 degrees west" from?

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/#declination

[Valentine]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

??? Looks OK to me. BTW the road linking Chao Fa City Rd through to beside Makro you will actually have to turn right off the city road to access it. The right turn comes up pretty quickly after a blind curve.

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

I think you might be confusing the new road on the map with the existing hillside scenic route. The new road, not yet complete, starts after the turning off where the sign says Vichit police station & it exits right next to Makro at the lights by Headstart school so your trips to Makro & Big C should be easier once opened. The blind bend there could turn out to be quite dangerous.

[andreandre]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

I have a feeling that you may be confusing true north with magnetic north.

Out of curiosity i checked Phukets difference between true north and magnetic north [variation] and is about 32 degrees west.

Confirms google map, is correct as are all maps orientated true north ..your pointer shows magnetic north [about 25 deg ]so as you said turn the map clockwise would indeed show your interpretation of north [magnetic north] is correct in theory..but not in reality as all maps show true north.

Here endith the lesson

Not a big deal at all really..i mean for most people going to Bangkok is north, going to Malaysia is south..good enough.

I think you contradict yourself.

You say "Confirms google map, is correct as are all maps orientated true north"

So the Google map is orientated true north.

But my image is from Google Earth and my red pointer is exactly aligned with north on Google Earth.

So my red line is pointing true north, but you then say "your pointer shows magnetic north".

So which is it? I say Google Earth shows true north as does my red line.

By the way, after 5 minutes of Googling:

"Magnetic declination, sometimes called magnetic variation, is the angle between magnetic north and true north. Declination is considered positive east of true north and negative when west."

Current magnetic declination for Phuket is a staggering: 0° 37' 14" W

Where did you get "32 degrees west" from?

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/#declination

IT appears as usual when you google search there are many varying answers..i got this one but there is also others ,up to 45 degrees, but the point is all i was trying to do was come up with an explanation/theory for the differences .

ICAO-code VTSP Region Bangkok FIR (VTBB) Coordinates N 8� 6' 48" - E 98� 19' 1" Elevation 82 ft / 25 m Magnetic Variation 0.327� West

I was thrown by the first Google map, which apparently was snapped on google earth when not aligned on the pointer to true north...this explains why there is a difference in the two maps you show, so, yes i will concede that you are correct ,your second one [with the pointer is correct] ie pointing true north and you were correct in saying that the first map needed to be turned clockwise to be correct.

As i said..Not a big deal at all really..i mean for most people going to Bangkok is north, going to Malaysia is south..good enough.

[madmitch]

Typical Thai map in the Phuket News.

Why don't they realise that north should be at the top?

??? Looks OK to me. BTW the road linking Chao Fa City Rd through to beside Makro you will actually have to turn right off the city road to access it. The right turn comes up pretty quickly after a blind curve.

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

I think you might be confusing the new road on the map with the existing hillside scenic route. The new road, not yet complete, starts after the turning off where the sign says Vichit police station & it exits right next to Makro at the lights by Headstart school so your trips to Makro & Big C should be easier once opened. The blind bend there could turn out to be quite dangerous.

I thought the new road was going to exit opposite Bangyai road (the road with the back entrance to Big C). They are certainly constructing a road there. The map isn't really clear.

[Somtamnication]

The problem with the Software park road is that it will create more traffic behind the university. Killing one bottleneck to create another. The Thai way!!

[Valentine]

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

I think you might be confusing the new road on the map with the existing hillside scenic route. The new road, not yet complete, starts after the turning off where the sign says Vichit police station & it exits right next to Makro at the lights by Headstart school so your trips to Makro & Big C should be easier once opened. The blind bend there could turn out to be quite dangerous.

I thought the new road was going to exit opposite Bangyai road (the road with the back entrance to Big C). They are certainly constructing a road there. The map isn't really clear.

My mistake, you are correct.

[Valentine]

The problem with the Software park road is that it will create more traffic behind the university. Killing one bottleneck to create another. The Thai way!!

A classic behind the university is there is a sign showing 10 wheel trucks cannot go through there but large 6 wheel buses are still able to pass & some of the 6 wheel trucks are just as big as the 10 wheelers.

[JetsetBkk]

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

I think you might be confusing the new road on the map with the existing hillside scenic route. The new road, not yet complete, starts after the turning off where the sign says Vichit police station & it exits right next to Makro at the lights by Headstart school so your trips to Makro & Big C should be easier once opened. The blind bend there could turn out to be quite dangerous.

Yes, lots of confusion here!

I know about the new road from opposite Bang Yai road to Muang Chao Fah road - shown as a vertical red line on the left of Phuket News' map - but I thought you were talking about the existing Makro "hillside scenic route" shortcut because you talked about a "blind bend".

I realise now that the blind bend you were talking about is the kink in Vichit Songram road opposite Bang Yai road and not the larger bend later on heading west just before the turning onto the "hillside scenic route" shortcut.

So now that that's all sorted, what were we talking about?

[JetsetBkk]

IT appears as usual when you google search there are many varying answers..i got this one but there is also others ,up to 45 degrees, but the point is all i was trying to do was come up with an explanation/theory for the differences .[/size]

ICAO-code VTSP Region Bangkok FIR (VTBB) Coordinates N 8� 6' 48" - E 98� 19' 1" Elevation 82 ft / 25 m Magnetic Variation 0.327� West

I was thrown by the first Google map, which apparently was snapped on google earth when not aligned on the pointer to true north...this explains why there is a difference in the two maps you show, so, yes i will concede that you are correct ,your second one [with the pointer is correct] ie pointing true north and you were correct in saying that the first map needed to be turned clockwise to be correct.

As i said..[/size]Not a big deal at all really..i mean for most people going to Bangkok is north, going to Malaysia is south..good enough.

I think I see your mistake. The "0.327 West" from "ivao.aero" is not 32 degrees, but 0.32 degrees!

And, come to think of it, we are at the equator where the difference between magnetic and true north should be at a minimum - we are so far away from both poles that the direction to them should be near enough the same.

[Valentine]

Not recognising the mangrove swamp road (Sakdidet 7) made me check the map.

I use the road from Makro to Rawai all the time - that "blind" bend isn't so bad - just keep an eye on any idiots tail-gating...

I even use it the other way to get from Rawai to Big C and Makro. The only awkward bit is doing a U-turn at the first traffic lights after you join Vichit Songkram road heading the wrong way.

I think you might be confusing the new road on the map with the existing hillside scenic route. The new road, not yet complete, starts after the turning off where the sign says Vichit police station & it exits right next to Makro at the lights by Headstart school so your trips to Makro & Big C should be easier once opened. The blind bend there could turn out to be quite dangerous.

Yes, lots of confusion here!

I know about the new road from opposite Bang Yai road to Muang Chao Fah road - shown as a vertical red line on the left of Phuket News' map - but I thought you were talking about the existing Makro "hillside scenic route" shortcut because you talked about a "blind bend".

I realise now that the blind bend you were talking about is the kink in Vichit Songram road opposite Bang Yai road and not the larger bend later on heading west just before the turning onto the "hillside scenic route" shortcut.

So now that that's all sorted, what were we talking about?

Confusion still reigns. The blind bend is on the Muang Chao Fa Road coming from the Honda side. Cars take that bend pretty fast & soon as you are around it you are right next to the junction where you have to make a right turn if you want to use the new road which should have been open before they started the underpass. Also cars coming out from the right have limited visibility because of the plants in the centre of the road.

[JetsetBkk]

Confusion still reigns. The blind bend is on the Muang Chao Fa Road coming from the Honda side. Cars take that bend pretty fast & soon as you are around it you are right next to the junction where you have to make a right turn if you want to use the new road which should have been open before they started the underpass. Also cars coming out from the right have limited visibility because of the plants in the centre of the road.

OK, got it!

Funny you should mention that bend as today - after being held up a Chalong Circle for 30 minutes for no apparent reason (the traffic queue was stationary when I joined it and stayed stationary for another 25 minutes) - I eventually joined Muang Chao Fah road and put my foot down.

As I went around the first right hand bend I was met by a huge water truck spraying the plants in the central reservation! No warning signs, no lane closures... just sitting there, facing me, spraying water from the outside lane.

Edit:

Actually, there were a lot of BiB around on Chao Fah West north of Hayek Chalong, so I assumed that we were blessed by a visit from some VIP or another.

Any ideas?

Edited January 20, 2014 by JetsetBkk

[Valentine]

Confusion still reigns. The blind bend is on the Muang Chao Fa Road coming from the Honda side. Cars take that bend pretty fast & soon as you are around it you are right next to the junction where you have to make a right turn if you want to use the new road which should have been open before they started the underpass. Also cars coming out from the right have limited visibility because of the plants in the centre of the road.

OK, got it!

Funny you should mention that bend as today - after being held up a Chalong Circle for 30 minutes for no apparent reason (the traffic queue was stationary when I joined it and stayed stationary for another 25 minutes) - I eventually joined Muang Chao Fah road and put my foot down.

As I went around the first right hand bend I was met by a huge water truck spraying the plants in the central reservation! No warning signs, no lane closures... just sitting there, facing me, spraying water from the outside lane.

Edit:

Actually, there were a lot of BiB around on Chao Fah West north of Hayek Chalong, so I assumed that we were blessed by a visit from some VIP or another.

Any ideas?

It has been happening for a few days, the police put down a bunch of cones just off centre on Chao Fa West for the VIP motorcade, which all adds to already congested traffic. No one will say or allowed to say who it is. I was at the GOMS meeting last night at the bar by the pier car park & apparently the VIP was there yesterday. Bar owner quipped that no one was allowed to sit at the front of the bar, only police.

Regarding the blind bends just remember the speed that thrills is the speed that ....

[madmitch]

Confusion still reigns. The blind bend is on the Muang Chao Fa Road coming from the Honda side. Cars take that bend pretty fast & soon as you are around it you are right next to the junction where you have to make a right turn if you want to use the new road which should have been open before they started the underpass. Also cars coming out from the right have limited visibility because of the plants in the centre of the road.

OK, got it!

Funny you should mention that bend as today - after being held up a Chalong Circle for 30 minutes for no apparent reason (the traffic queue was stationary when I joined it and stayed stationary for another 25 minutes) - I eventually joined Muang Chao Fah road and put my foot down.

As I went around the first right hand bend I was met by a huge water truck spraying the plants in the central reservation! No warning signs, no lane closures... just sitting there, facing me, spraying water from the outside lane.

Edit:

Actually, there were a lot of BiB around on Chao Fah West north of Hayek Chalong, so I assumed that we were blessed by a visit from some VIP or another.

Any ideas?

One of the princesses, according to the GF. On the arrival day the police must have been in position for at least three hours before the motorcade went past.