Traffic-management plans laid for tunnel-construction zone

[Rimmer]

Traffic-management plans laid for tunnel-construction zone

Pattaya and regional police, and the Department of Rural Roads agreed on a traffic-management system aimed at relieving the inevitable worsening congestion on Sukhumvit Road while a traffic-bypass tunnel is built at the Central Road intersection over the next three years.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, police chiefs from Pattaya and Chonburi, and Rural Roads Department officials signed the agreement Jan. 20.

Five meters - 1 and a half lanes - bordering Sukhumvit’s center median will be closed to traffic from the Boonthavorn shop to Soi Wat Boonsampan in the initial stage of construction. Parking will be banned in the construction zone while work is in progress and traffic from North Pattaya and Highway 7 cannot turn right on to Central Pattaya Road. Likewise, traffic from South Pattaya will be bared from turning right onto Pornprapanimit Road.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/traffic-management-plans-laid-for-tunnel-construction-zone-44590#sthash.xORLRQ58.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2015-01-30

[Mobi]

Did I miss it somewhere but I can't see when the changes take effect.

Suggest you give the whole area a wide birth until it is bedded in. There's going to be chaos for while.

Let the fun begin.

[Woody1]

Did I miss it somewhere but I can't see when the changes take effect.

Suggest you give the whole area a wide birth until it is bedded in. There's going to be chaos for while.

Let the fun begin.

Also, wait for the accident figures to rocket. There isn't the slightest chance that all the motorbikes will obey the one way systems

[craigt3365]

No right turn onto Klang from Sukhumvit coming from the North? What are you going to do? Next U-Turn is about 1km down the road or so and it's a very small U-turn. This is going to be crazy.

[Woody1]

No right turn onto Klang from Sukhumvit coming from the North? What are you going to do? Next U-Turn is about 1km down the road or so and it's a very small U-turn. This is going to be crazy.

I'm not even sure that U-turn will be an option, as the preparation works I noticed last weekend on Sukhumvit stretched past that location.

One thing is certain, it's going to pandemonium and utter chaos, and I dread to think of public holiday / long weekend traffic.

[Mobi]

What usually happens when they bring in new traffic systems is that they create total gridlock for a couple of days and then they either abandon their plans or modify them. Expect some of this.

If they put up proper diversion signs, in Thai and English, advising of alternative routes, then it might help, but this is never done.

I'll never forget when they decided - quite rightly - to make the two roads running parallel to the railway tracks one-way.(one: north/south, the other: south/north). When the roads were first built, both allowed two-way traffic and it was chaotic at the junctions. When they changed them to one-way, there were accidents all over the place and months after they had become one way, there were still local vehicles going both ways - and not only motorbikes. But even to this day you can still see road markings on the roads themselves indicating two-way traffic is permissible! They never bothered to get someone to black out the two-way arrows.

As I said - let the fun begin...

[NanLaew]

No right turn onto Klang from Sukhumvit coming from the North? What are you going to do? Next U-Turn is about 1km down the road or so and it's a very small U-turn. This is going to be crazy.

Yes, but persevere and then cut down Soi 46/3 (Soi Batman) onto Soi 18 and pop up in the middle of Sai Sahm without getting stuck on Tai or Klang.

[NanLaew]

What usually happens when they bring in new traffic systems is that they create total gridlock for a couple of days and then they either abandon their plans or modify them. Expect some of this.

If they put up proper diversion signs, in Thai and English, advising of alternative routes, then it might help, but this is never done.

I'll never forget when they decided - quite rightly - to make the two roads running parallel to the railway tracks one-way.(one: north/south, the other: south/north). When the roads were first built, both allowed two-way traffic and it was chaotic at the junctions. When they changed them to one-way, there were accidents all over the place and months after they had become one way, there were still local vehicles going both ways - and not only motorbikes. But even to this day you can still see road markings on the roads themselves indicating two-way traffic is permissible! They never bothered to get someone to black out the two-way arrows.

As I said - let the fun begin...

Just about right. The really interesting bit is how they will manage the intersections on the northbound railway track road where the one-way parts of SSCC, Noenplubwan, Khaonoi and Khaotalo become the 2-way parts of the same streets.

Typical of the whole mis-management team to publish the futuristic pictures of what the underpass may look like rather than a map of the planned one-way and turning restrictions.

[craigt3365]

They are really at it now. Barricades up and down the center median. Can still turn right off Suk onto Klang. But with the work going on down towards Tai, it's a mess...and looking to get worse.

But hey, every growing city has to deal with issues like this. Improved roads are desperately needed here. I lived in Vegas when it was doing a lot of new road construction. It was a horrible mess, but absolutely fantastic now...well...outside rush hour!

[joepattaya1961]

Dam_n.........with the roadworks on the leftside of Sukhumvit between Soi 69 and 75 still un-finished, they've put barriers up along the right-side of Sukhumvit..............4 lanes reduced to 2 lanes.......great

[Mobi]

No right turn onto Klang from Sukhumvit coming from the North? What are you going to do? Next U-Turn is about 1km down the road or so and it's a very small U-turn. This is going to be crazy.

Yes, but persevere and then cut down Soi 46/3 (Soi Batman) onto Soi 18 and pop up in the middle of Sai Sahm without getting stuck on Tai or Klang.

Is there really a Soi BATMAN???

Don't you just love it...only in Thailand....

I suppose we can add it to the annals of strange names of sois in Thailand, like Soi Muslim, Soi Welcome, Soi Honey, Soi Cowboy, and so on. Maybe Walking Street should be re-named Soi Boom Boom, and that road in Jomtien where they have all the condo jumpers should be called Soi Suicide...

Any more?

[craigt3365]

I think Soi Batman was named after the disco that was there and burned down a number of years ago???

[KittenKong]

Sounds like I wont be going north of BigC on Sukumvit very often until 2018.

It's a good job there isnt much up that way that I need to get to. Getting to the 89B car wash on the darkside might be a pain though.

[RabC]

They still do not appear to have awarded the contract for the life savers (pool guards) who will man this underpass?

[inzman]

No right turn onto Klang from Sukhumvit coming from the North? What are you going to do? Next U-Turn is about 1km down the road or so and it's a very small U-turn. This is going to be crazy.

Yes, but persevere and then cut down Soi 46/3 (Soi Batman) onto Soi 18 and pop up in the middle of Sai Sahm without getting stuck on Tai or Klang.

Is there really a Soi BATMAN???

Don't you just love it...only in Thailand....

I suppose we can add it to the annals of strange names of sois in Thailand, like Soi Muslim, Soi Welcome, Soi Honey, Soi Cowboy, and so on. Maybe Walking Street should be re-named Soi Boom Boom, and that road in Jomtien where they have all the condo jumpers should be called Soi Suicide...

Any more?

Dont forget Soi BJ off walking street.

[Andreas2]

Is there any published plan of the tunnel besides the picture in this article?

http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/sukhumvit-tunnel-construction-begins-nov-15-42131

I just hope, there won't be too many damages on neighbouring buildings (or even collapses) while digging this huge hole. Vibrations, leachate during rainy season etc. come to mind.

[joepattaya1961]

With my restricted knowledge about tunnel-construction there should be only 2 construction-sites: at the beginning and at the end of the tunnel (v.v.)

I suppose that they are going to dig a huge slot which will be covered by a concrete "roof/ceiling).

Some years ago, they dug-in huge concrete pipes as part of the Sukhumvit drainage system..............one thing is for sure.........Sukhumvit will never be flooded again after the tunnel is finished.

[patsfangr]

I live near the top (east end) of Noenplubwarn. It would appear that, with the Suk turn onto P. Klang now closed for some time, the best way to get to P. Klang to shop at Big C - X or Foodland, would be to take Rt 7 to Suk; turn right (north); then left on P. Nua. Travel down P. Nua to 3rd Road; turn left; proceed to P. Klang; and turn left again.

Anybody got any better ideas for a route from Noenplubwarn or Soi Siam than that?

[joepattaya1961]

Patsfrang, turn into Pattaya North Road. Take the first Soi on your left (approx 100 mtr). Follow this Soi until you see BigC on your right hand; for Foodland: pass BigC and turn left at the traffic lights. You're on Pattaya Klaang with Foodland on your left hand after 300 mtr

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

The turn onto Pattaya Klang from Suk is completely and permanently blocked by concrete barriers now. Rush hour traffic heading to Suk will be even more of a nightmare, if that's imaginable. No lights to control northbound flow and allow Klang motorists a chance to blend in. Just a complete free-for-all so try to do the best you can. LOL

Those of us on the Darkside are kind of barricaded here. The 2 km roundtrip to the southbound u-turn is silly in non-rush hour. Rush-hour should be a complete shambles. The only reasonable thing I can see doing to get to Big C Extra is to turn north off Siam CC and head to the subsoi (can't remember the number) to go to Soi Yume.

Three years of this? I just might have to move.

[patsfangr]

Patsfrang, turn into Pattaya North Road. Take the first Soi on your left (approx 100 mtr). Follow this Soi until you see BigC on your right hand; for Foodland: pass BigC and turn left at the traffic lights. You're on Pattaya Klaang with Foodland on your left hand after 300 mtr

Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that the soi you mention goes all the way through from P. Klang to P. Nua. I think that's Soi Yume, isn't it? That should be faster than going all the way down to 3rd Road.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Patsfrang, turn into Pattaya North Road. Take the first Soi on your left (approx 100 mtr). Follow this Soi until you see BigC on your right hand; for Foodland: pass BigC and turn left at the traffic lights. You're on Pattaya Klaang with Foodland on your left hand after 300 mtr

Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that the soi you mention goes all the way through from P. Klang to P. Nua. I think that's Soi Yume, isn't it? That should be faster than going all the way down to 3rd Road.

Yes, it's Soi Yume (nickname) but is Soi Paniad Chang.

[patsfangr]

The turn onto Pattaya Klang from Suk is completely and permanently blocked by concrete barriers now. Rush hour traffic heading to Suk will be even more of a nightmare, if that's imaginable. No lights to control northbound flow and allow Klang motorists a chance to blend in. Just a complete free-for-all so try to do the best you can. LOL

Those of us on the Darkside are kind of barricaded here. The 2 km roundtrip to the southbound u-turn is silly in non-rush hour. Rush-hour should be a complete shambles. The only reasonable thing I can see doing to get to Big C Extra is to turn north off Siam CC and head to the subsoi (can't remember the number) to go to Soi Yume.

Three years of this? I just might have to move.

Kaoboi, Depending upon how far east of Suk you are, you may find it faster to take Naklua Road (soi intersecting Siam at the traffic light) north to it's end. Turn left there, and go up the ramp to Rte 7. Take the exit onto Suk northbound; then turn left onto Pattaya Nua. Take the left turn about 100 m. down onto Soi Yume. You can follow that all the way to Big C-X on P. Klang.

This may be a bit longer, in distance, than going up to Suk, and making the U-turn from the southbound lane. But I think it will be faster.

[Dirk_brijs]

Patsfrang, turn into Pattaya North Road. Take the first Soi on your left (approx 100 mtr). Follow this Soi until you see BigC on your right hand; for Foodland: pass BigC and turn left at the traffic lights. You're on Pattaya Klaang with Foodland on your left hand after 300 mtr

Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that the soi you mention goes all the way through from P. Klang to P. Nua. I think that's Soi Yume, isn't it? That should be faster than going all the way down to 3rd Road.

Soi Yume faster? Lol guess half Pattaya must have thought meaning traffic got to a halt starting at the school. Took 45minutes to get to the lights on Pattaya Klang.

Fun thing is Pattaya Klang was also congested so most of the time if the Yume lights turned green not one single car could even cross Klang.

"DONT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSS ROAD" is not part of any Thai driving test booklet.

[patsfangr]

Patsfrang, turn into Pattaya North Road. Take the first Soi on your left (approx 100 mtr). Follow this Soi until you see BigC on your right hand; for Foodland: pass BigC and turn left at the traffic lights. You're on Pattaya Klaang with Foodland on your left hand after 300 mtr

Thanks, Joe. I had forgotten that the soi you mention goes all the way through from P. Klang to P. Nua. I think that's Soi Yume, isn't it? That should be faster than going all the way down to 3rd Road.

Soi Yume faster? Lol guess half Pattaya must have thought meaning traffic got to a halt starting at the school. Took 45minutes to get to the lights on Pattaya Klang.

Fun thing is Pattaya Klang was also congested so most of the time if the Yume lights turned green not one single car could even cross Klang.

"DONT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSS ROAD" is not part of any Thai driving test booklet.

So sad. It looks like the businesses on P. Klang are really going to suffer, once people make adjustments to their shopping habits in reaction to the increasing congestion. Big C X and Foodland are likely to see major drops, as customers choose either of the 2 main Tesco-Lotus stores (Suk or P. Nua), or the Big C on Suk for their groceries.

All of the many other businesses on P. Klang are likely to suffer similar losses of business. For some of the smaller businesses, it could mean the end. All due to the typically incompetent "planners" for any type of infrastructure work in this area.

Speaking of which, wouldn't an overpass been cheaper, faster, and easier to build than a damn tunnel? And I could add SAFER. Will motorbikes be allowed to use this tunnel? I don't think I have to expand on that frightening thought! And then there's the flooding issue. And, I have to ask, how confident will you be driving through a TUNNEL constructed by the same people who build and "maintain" the roads in Pattaya?! Just asking.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

So sad. It looks like the businesses on P. Klang are really going to suffer, once people make adjustments to their shopping habits in reaction to the increasing congestion. Big C X and Foodland are likely to see major drops, as customers choose either of the 2 main Tesco-Lotus stores (Suk or P. Nua), or the Big C on Suk for their groceries.

All of the many other businesses on P. Klang are likely to suffer similar losses of business. For some of the smaller businesses, it could mean the end. All due to the typically incompetent "planners" for any type of infrastructure work in this area.

Speaking of which, wouldn't an overpass been cheaper, faster, and easier to build than a damn tunnel? And I could add SAFER. Will motorbikes be allowed to use this tunnel? I don't think I have to expand on that frightening thought! And then there's the flooding issue. And, I have to ask, how confident will you be driving through a TUNNEL constructed by the same people who build and "maintain" the roads in Pattaya?! Just asking.

Think you are right, patsfangr. I decided to do my Foodland shopping late last night and did the long run from Nern Pub Wan to the southbound u-turn. Traffic was sparse. It was around 10:30 pm.

There was nowhere near the same number of customers I'd see in Foodland. I go there 5 out of 7 days a week. Motorcycle parking spaces were half empty and there were many car spaces available. Staff were idly standing around the cashiers chatting. You could grab a stool at the diner, no problem. Hardly anyone in the aisles. The usually bustling Foodland was hardly recognizable.

[patsfangr]

So sad. It looks like the businesses on P. Klang are really going to suffer, once people make adjustments to their shopping habits in reaction to the increasing congestion. Big C X and Foodland are likely to see major drops, as customers choose either of the 2 main Tesco-Lotus stores (Suk or P. Nua), or the Big C on Suk for their groceries.

All of the many other businesses on P. Klang are likely to suffer similar losses of business. For some of the smaller businesses, it could mean the end. All due to the typically incompetent "planners" for any type of infrastructure work in this area.

Speaking of which, wouldn't an overpass been cheaper, faster, and easier to build than a damn tunnel? And I could add SAFER. Will motorbikes be allowed to use this tunnel? I don't think I have to expand on that frightening thought! And then there's the flooding issue. And, I have to ask, how confident will you be driving through a TUNNEL constructed by the same people who build and "maintain" the roads in Pattaya?! Just asking.

Think you are right, patsfangr. I decided to do my Foodland shopping late last night and did the long run from Nern Pub Wan to the southbound u-turn. Traffic was sparse. It was around 10:30 pm.

There was nowhere near the same number of customers I'd see in Foodland. I go there 5 out of 7 days a week. Motorcycle parking spaces were half empty and there were many car spaces available. Staff were idly standing around the cashiers chatting. You could grab a stool at the diner, no problem. Hardly anyone in the aisles. The usually bustling Foodland was hardly recognizable.

Now, if this situation were to FINALLY push the management of Foodland to open a full sized store here on the Darkside, this whole thing might be worth the current traffic mess! I've lived here for nearly 9 years now; and I've believed for the last 5, at least, that there is more than enough of a customer base here to support an additional Foodland (or Big C, or Lotus) on this side of Sukhumvit. I do not understand why it hasn't happened long before this.

Three years or (likely) more of this traffic, and the resulting business depression on the west side, just may be enough to get done what should have been done at least 5 years ago!

[NanLaew]

... and I've believed for the last 5, at least, that there is more than enough of a customer base here to support an additional Foodland (or Big C, or Lotus) on this side of Sukhumvit. I do not understand why it hasn't happened long before this. ...

Well there's your flawed reasoning right from the get go.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

You're not going to believe this. The intersection at Siam Country Club Road and Sukhumvit is now blocked with concrete barriers. Must have done it overnight. People like me were lined up to cross Suk about an hour ago and saw the lights were inoperative. Then I saw the barriers and could not believe it.

So two major streams of traffic (from Nern Pub Wan and Siam CCR) that want to go to the beach side will all have to travel south to that puny little u-turn. This is going to be the worst time to be in Pattaya, arriving or leaving but especially living here. I really have to think about my options now, including moving back to Bangkok or leaving Thailand. Point blank.

Edited February 22, 2015 by Kaoboi Bebobp

[patsfangr]

You're not going to believe this. The intersection at Siam Country Club Road and Sukhumvit is now blocked with concrete barriers. Must have done it overnight. People like me were lined up to cross Suk about an hour ago and saw the lights were inoperative. Then I saw the barriers and could not believe it.

So two major streams of traffic that want to go to the beach side will all have to travel south to that puny little u-turn. This is going to be the worst time to be in Pattaya, arriving or leaving but especially living here. I really have to think about my options now, including moving back to Bangkok or leaving Thailand. Point blank.

I'll say it again, in the hope that SOMEONE with just a hint of entrepreneurial sense will realize that it's time to expand into the east side of Suk with a major supermarket. The customers will positively storm the place from day one! WAKE UP, supermarket owners!!

(With Big C-X and Foodland now virtually ISOLATED, I'll be that Big C South and Lotus South are now so packed that it's almost impossible to park there. They are probably running out of stock on hundreds of items. And the cashier lines must all be about 1/2 a km long! Am I right?