Road Crossings Over "klongs"

[teej]

Just came back from Pattaya (still a shithole) for work, and while driving back on the motorway, I was getting really frustrated by the mini "bridges" that that cross klongs... even on a large freeway like the motorway, these things are absolutely brutal, there is no ramping up or down, just from strait to and angle to a plateau then angle down to straight again....

There was even a section around the new airport where the tar was black as if they tried to fix that area, and it was like riding a rollercoaster except you practically bottom out when going down into what seemed like a skateboard ramp in the middle of the freeway...

I expect these types of crappy klong bridges on smaller roads, but why on a large freeway like the motorway? can't they just take a little more time to ramp up and down at less of an angle so you're not getting air if you're going over say 120kph? It seems like a fairly simple thing to do, but why is it never done? Even on that huge 8 lane or whatever section by the new airport, there were dips and valleys and bumps that had blindspots on the way up and potential bottoming out on the way down...

Is it just me or does that bother anybody else?

[Skyline]

Yep,

I agree,Ive ruined 2 sets of wheels already by hitting ramps over khlongs.They dont realize that not everyone drives a pick up!

[Deke]

Yep,

I agree,Ive ruined 2 sets of wheels already by hitting ramps over khlongs.They dont realize that not everyone drives a pick up!

Mostly it's a problem of differential settlement. The bridges, which are on piles, settle much more slowly than the surrounding land, including the road bed. Over time, the elevation of the bridges gradually increases relative to the road.

[taxexile]

Mostly it's a problem of differential settlement.

mostly its a problem of people driving too fast for the road conditions.

[Meerkat]

Mostly it's a problem of differential settlement.

mostly its a problem of people driving too fast for the road conditions.

Aye - thus all the accident chalkmarks on the approach to those bridges as the poor sods who slow down get rear-ended by a prat at 180kmh. I was explaining to the missus about how in the UK we are advised to keep 2 seconds' worth of distance between you and the car infront. She thought it should be introduced in Thailand, but scaled up to four seconds! When the revolution comes, I'm putting her in charge of traffic. Oh, the revolution's already come...

The road-settlement is a real problem on the Viphavadi-Rangsit Road too. The outside of the fast lanes have settled onto the support pillars for the tollway above, making the drive unbearable (jumping up and down on your offside wheels only). The scariest thing is being in the middle lane with those idiotic coach drivers charging past you on the outside, precariously tipping towards you every 50m or so. They have been doing work recently (certainly between Don Muang and Rangsit) to rectify the problem; by shaving the supports!

[taxexile]

agreed , the design and construction of the roads here leaves a lot to be desired , all the more reason to drive slowly and defensively so as to lessen the chances of an accident.

pick up drivers especially should be aware of the handling shortcomings of a vehicle with leaf spring rear suspension and a high centre of gravity.

and foriegners should be aware of the aberrant mental state of most thais when they are behind the wheel.

[Plus]

They just recently shaved off supports on Rama 9 motorway leading to the airport, it was under the U-turn bridge before the airport exit. I'm glad they did it because I had to find a space in a middle lane everytime I approached that brutal bump. Even at legal speeds the experience was unnerving - if you see it you try to break hard and risk getting rear-ended, if you drive through, you'll scare shit out of people on the left, especially in a pickup or an SUV.

Where I live there are lots of these little bridges, and they never get them right. Often the bridge is ok but the ramps up and down subside, and when they try to fix them they make it like the road in that new Cars movie.

I don't think it's matter of little time and little more effort. I believe they just don't have qualified contractors.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

when I drive over those bridges/bumps my girlfriend lifts here hands in the air and giggles like a little kid.

When she explained , she said 'it's like a Viking'...

After much interrogating, I finally deduced that the feeling in her stomach she gets when I drive over those bridges is the same as when she rides on the 'Pirate Ship ride' at the amusement parks.

That 2 lane Bkk-Chonburi motorway has to be the crappest road in Thailand... and ironically you must pay - but cheaper than Future Park I suppose

Jame