Construction of B200mn Phuket u-turn flyovers set to start before year’s end

Tanyaluk Sakoot

The U-turn flyovers (inset) aim to alleviate mile-long tailbacks on Thepkrasattri Rd (main photo).

PHUKET: Traffic on Thepkrasattri Rd will take a hit before year’s end with construction of two flyovers to commence just before Phuket’s next tourism high season.

New Phuket Highways Office Director Patiwetwoottisak Sookki confirmed to The Phuket News this week, “Construction will start soon, before the end of this year.

“The contract bid has been approved already, with CC Machinery and Construction Limited Partnership, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat province, selected to perform construction,” he added.

The two flyers, together costing about B200 million, will both be “mid-air U-turns”, allowing traffic heading northbound to return southbound unimpeded, and without causing delays to other motorists.

One flyover will be located near the Jeeteng mansion on Thepkrasattri Rd in Koh Kaew, about 1.38km south of the Heroine’s Monument. The other will be at the Nai Yang turn-off on Thepkrasattri Rd, about 3.3km north of the main intersection in Thalang Town.

Mr Patiwetwoottisa acknowledged that the government contract had yet to be signed, that the budget had yet to be handed over and that final approval had yet to come from the Transport Ministry, but was adamant that construction will start “after October or November”.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/construction-of-b200mn-phuket-u-turn-flyovers-set-to-start-before-year-end-58446.php#u7vZpTb0xpUBHDkL.97

-- Phuket News 2016-07-30

Very optimistic considering 3 official approvals are needed not to mention local opposition as there was before when a flyover was mooted at the infamous Koh Kaew U turn. Hopefully it goes smoothly & shows costs of flyovers are much less than underpass.

Perfect timing

Why not have a through traffic North & South bound flyover?

U-turns can continue at groundlevel. An elevated U-turn won't solve the Koh Kaew problems because there is also staggered crossing traffic from the adjoining sois on both sides of the main road.

That's my suggestion anyway.

Yeah unless they put a 3m wall between both sides of the thep, this wont help at all.

The inset picture only shows a U turn for one direction of traffic flow... Or am I mistaken?

Ah well... At least the tunneling seems to be forcing them to rethink flyovers.... And hell..., no way are they as unsightly as the bill boards and tangled masses of wires already on display.

So... As Valentine noted straight off... Hopefully this project will demonstrate that the financial and time benefits outweigh the folly of tunnels... Because I believe we will see many more "road improvement" projects over the next few years.... And flyovers will get the pain done with sooner.

Good to see they priority right here in Phuket with road construction sharing the top of the podium together with vehicle dealers