Phuket residents approve north-south Chalong underpass

[webfact]

Phuket residents approve north-south Chalong underpass
Phuket Gazette


Those at the meeting voted to approve a north-south underpass joining Chao Fa West Road and Wiset Road. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Local residents yesterday voted to approve a route for the Chalong underpass: a two-way underpass stretching one kilometer long that joins Chao Fa West Road and Wiset Road.

The selected route was chosen at the second public hearing for the project, held at The Metropole Hotel in Phuket Town.

The chosen route was among four options presented yesterday. The other three options were:

• A two-way underpass joining Chao Fa West Road and Wiset Road, and a two-way flyover joining Chao Fa East Road and Wiset Road;

• A one-way southbound underpass from Chao Fa East Road and a one-way southbound underpass from Chao Fa West Road, both joining Wiset Road;

• A two-way flyover joining Chao Fa West Road and Wiset Road.

Two options presented at the first public hearing, held in July last year (story here), were dropped due to lack of support.

“Solving the traffic problem at Chalong Circle is critical. We have to fix it as fast as possible,” said Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut.

Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol also voiced his support for the project.

“More than 10,000 motorists use the circle every day, causing heavy traffic during rush hours. I support the underpass chosen, as it will help to ease traffic while not creating an eyesore,” he said.

“I admit that traffic will be worse while the underpass is being built, but we will try to find alternative routes for motorists during the construction phase.”

Flood prevention was a key concern for Mayor Samran.

“This [flood prevention] must be sorted out. We all know that flash floods can strike at any time when heavy rain comes,” he said.

Rawai Mayor Arun Solos joined others in voicing his support for the project.

“Chalong Circle is very important. It connects the main roads from the north of the island to many tourist attractions: Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Promthep Cape, Rawai Beach, Nai Harn Beach and Chalong Pier,” Mayor Arun said.

The hearing yesterday was held as part of the 9-million-baht feasibility study for the project, which is scheduled to conclude on August 12 (story here).

In a Phuket Gazette online poll held last year, more than one-third of the respondents voted to have an effective public transport system that reduces the volume of traffic on Phuket’s roads, instead of building an underpass costing hundreds of millions of baht at the busy Chalong Circle junction (story here).

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-residents-approve-northsouth-Chalong-underpass/29213#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-04-22

[chercheur888]

(I support the underpass chosen, as it will help to ease traffic while not creating an eyesore,” he said.)

What is not an Eyesore at Chalong Circle? Oh yes, I forgot the former fountain in the middle was a real piece of art.

Just make a fly over

[madmitch]

The Phuket News has reported an estimated construction period of 30 months and they hope the project will start in 2016.

That gives me two years to find somewhere else to live as there is no way I will put up with the traffic chaos that this will cause to all residents of Rawai, Chalong, Kata and Karon.

[Somtamnication]

Oh god. Note to self: avoid Chalong circle, as you have done so, for the past 3 years and continue that "route" for another 3 years. These people 20 years behind the times.

[schlog]

The Phuket News has reported an estimated construction period of 30 months and they hope the project will start in 2016.

That gives me two years to find somewhere else to live as there is no way I will put up with the traffic chaos that this will cause to all residents of Rawai, Chalong, Kata and Karon.

Good desicion. I also moved up when they start the underpass at central. Before i really like to live in Phuket Town for many years.

But with all this underpass constructions/ dust/ traffic etc. i choose not to loose more irretrievable lifetime.

Now my life on phuket is again relaxed as in the post tsunami time and only if i want i am back in chaos in 15-20 min.

[nedkellylives]

2 hours from Rawai to airport when they start construction, probably quicker to go by the coast road via Patong

[stevehaigh]

phuket, the hub for underpasses. they could build and overpass in 6 months if they used prefab components!

so how real is this? sounds like its going to go ahead.

[LivinginKata]

2 hours from Rawai to airport when they start construction, probably quicker to go by the coast road via Patong

Yes, I've been using the coast road to airport for many months now. Yesterday took me 40 minutes from Patong to airport. A much more pleasant and relaxed drive compared with that crazy race down bypass and along the main road north.

[stevenl]

Yes, something needs to be done there urgently, but I really feel an overpass would be by far the better option.

[steelepulse]

Not near as much tea money on a smaller budget vs a bigger budget, so the overpass isn't in the best interest for those involved in garnering maximum payoffs.

I too did a round trip to the airport yesterday and it was 50 minutes out at 7 am, then one hour and 10 minutes return leaving the airport at 8 pm.

[Valentine]

Not near as much tea money on a smaller budget vs a bigger budget, so the overpass isn't in the best interest for those involved in garnering maximum payoffs.

I too did a round trip to the airport yesterday and it was 50 minutes out at 7 am, then one hour and 10 minutes return leaving the airport at 8 pm.

I doubt you could do it in that time when the schools are open. They have to be kidding agreeing to a 2 way underpass. I shake my head in disbelief at the absurdity of this solution because as someone else said in regard to the Central underpass it will be not be enough before construction even finishes. The underpass plus flyover option sounds better to me as the only other flyover option was 2 way. Imagine an accident closing both lanes in the underpass. Rescue vehicles will never be able to reach the crash, even a minor one could cause very lengthy chaos due to the fact no one will move their vehicle until a dozen phone calls have been made, the police & insurance people arrive & a negotiated settlement agreed upon.

[KarenBravo]

Please.....no overpasses. Very unsightly and not fair to property owners next to it.