Bypass hwy, west side of C.Rai

[boomerangutang]

It's a 4-lane hwy (2 each way). It interests me muchly because it goes near two of my rural properties.  The hwy will make it quicker for those going to or from places north of Chiang Rai - towards/from Chiang Mai.   Similar, but slightly different direction than those going due south, to Lampang - will use the ring road east of C.Rai.  

Unlike the eastern side, the western side has hills.  Instead of curving around the hills, engineers opted to make the hwy as straight and level as possible.  Doing that entails several massive bridges, and ramps the costs up considerably.  I've hiked around some of the construction sites.   To me, it seems like a lot of overbuilding, but it probably makes the contractors happy (and their friends in the money pipeline).   Another example of overbuilding:  A drainage area for a small valley (15 rai) which, at its max, would barely fill an 8 inch pipe, has a drainage cross section of about 9 square meters.  That's like putting a cement truck engine on a motor scooter.   There are several of those along the hwy's route.    

A 4-lane bridge will have to be built (several KM upstream from the Buddha cave / 'Tam Pra'), but thus far, work hasn't started on the bridge.  Locals say the hwy will be operational in 2 years.  That translates to 4 or 5.

 In the bigger picture, the two bypass hwy's around C.Rai are part of the plan to bring Chinese goods into Thailand, mostly via Chiang Saen, but possibly also through Tachilek.  That's also a large part of the reason that Route 1 (N/S hwy with Mae Sae) is being rebuilt.  It was in good condition, but city fathers chose to rip the old tarmac out, and rebuild it to Chinese standards:  (1 ft. thick concrete / 3/4" re-bar 16" o.c.) ....to handle thousands of Chinese trucks expected.

  

[DonaldBattles]

I think that the road from Chiang Kong will be part of the Tollway that goes to Chiang Rai and to Chiang Mai. This was mentioned a few years ago in a talk that Yingluk gave. My wife saw it on TV. The road will branch at Chiang Rai and head to Bangkok via Pitsanulok. It is reported that the Chinese will build up to 85 tunnels on the route to Bangkok. They will also build the tunnels on the new part of the toll road to Chiang Mai. The new road totally will bypass the existing the existing Highway 118 to Chiang Mai. It will connect to the new ring road near the White Temple and head toward Chiang Mai. 

Unless the Thai Government starts to allow Chinese cars to come across at Ching Kong without great expense and restrictions it remains to be seen what part China will pay for. Now there serious restrictions for motorcycles to enter Lao from Thailand. Seems like games are being played

[canuckamuck]

Will it bypass the 118 to the north or the south? 

[DonaldBattles]

I ma not sure of the new Chiang Mai Tollway. To my knowledge there has been no work yet. I suspect that it will be south of 118. The mountains where they will have to dig tunnels will be a major factor in the direction. Naturally it bypasses all of the cities along the way. My information comes from a friend who has a set of drawings that he got from the Highway Department computer.

[boomerangutang]

Building a hwy, even a slick 4-laner can be done with a minimum amount of bridges and tunnels.  However, if there are well-connected contractors involved (particularly if they're chummy with the men who award the contracts), then: the more tunnels and bridges, the better, because more money is generated.   Even the Bkk gov't admits about 1/3 of money paid for public works goes into shady peoples' pockets.  That's a lot of mullah getting siphoned off.     

There's probably a connection there with why hundreds of same-design buildings are popping up along every highway in the Chiang Rai region.  If I was a corrupt contractor and had a billion dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I'd probably venture to do something like that:  buy up hundreds of parcels along all highways, and build build build.

 

[villagefarang]

Great news that they are building more roads as we need them desperately.  I really appreciate all the resurfacing they have been doing out my way over the last year.  It really makes my drive to town much more enjoyable.  

No one likes corruption but I am not willing to forgo all infrastructure development in protest.  Besides it is a Thai problem, not mine, and I don't know of anywhere on earth that doesn't have some form of corruption built into the system.  I don't have anything against condos or shophouses either, building them, selling them or people living in them is not really my concern.

[Rotweiler]

If you are interested in the routing for the new Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai highway (118 replacement highway), this may be of interest..

[Rotweiler]

Here's the whole route.

[DonaldBattles]

This is quiet a surprise as it goes south a long way before it starts going west. It looks like a much shorter route and most likely bypasses many of the mountains and reduces the number of tunnels required. Many thanks. I appreciate any new information on the highway construction in this area.

[sceadugenga]

I flew over it this afternoon coming in to land at the airport, it's like a great red scar on the landscape.

[boomerangutang]

      Thanks for the maps, Rotweiler. As with other municipal projects in Thailand, there is no prior input (hearings, town hall meetings, etc) involving the general public.  There are a few controlling politicians/rich people making decisions, including deciding who wins contracts (usually bosom buddies/family), an announcement (or word emanates thru the grapevine) and.... 

 

       Also; while initial plans are being made by the few, insiders are clandestinely buying up parcels along the route. Who took the 'pal' out of municipal?

 

      Meanwhile: how much money or efforts go into establishing parks in the region?  Pretty close to zero. One of several examples of low-cost projects which would improve the city: There could be bicycle/jogging/hiking paths along both sides of the Mae Kok river.  For the cost of 1 km of the 4-lane hwy many Km's of trails could be built.  But parks are superfluous from Asians' perspective.  Much more important, in their view, is business infrastructure and getting rich. Even if a park were created, it would probably have an entry fee with farang paying 20 times more than Thais.

[villagefarang]

Looking at the map, it is clear that a lot of time and planning has gone into this project.  When it is likely to get built is probably up for debate.  I find it irresponsible to slander those responsible for this valuable infrastructure project without some kind of evidence.  It is one things to cast aspersions while drunk and showing off for the boys in the bar but it is something else to write about it as if it were fact.

Some large metropolitan areas are able to support city parks but smaller rural communities like ours, not so much.  There are many nature parks within easy driving distance of Chiang Rai and some private companies like Singha Park have developed modern recreation areas which are popular and cater to the local and national desires.  No fee required.

 

I would just like to add, I feel Thailand is free to build what it wants, how it wants and to enforce its anticorruption laws as it sees fit.  We really don't have a say in their national matters.

Edited August 4, 2016 by villagefarang

[sceadugenga]

You're jumping to the conclusion that the Thai government does not read the posts on ThaiVisa very carefully before making any decisions... major or minor?

 

I find that hard to believe...

[DonaldBattles]

Rest assured that they read everything published by a farang everyday like web sites and newspapers. They have hundreds of people looking and evaluating. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY IN PUBLIC IF YOU DON'T WANT IT TO COME BACK AND BITE YOU IN THE ASS!

[boomerangutang]

11 hours ago, sceadugenga said:

You're jumping to the conclusion that the Thai government does not read the posts on ThaiVisa very carefully before making any decisions... major or minor?

 

I find that hard to believe...

 

Who is jumping to conclusions?

 

If they read every post, maybe they'll also read the post I started re; the noise pollution which is annoying hundreds of people in Hoy Plakang - and take steps to lessen the annoyance to hundreds of villagers residing there.   ha ha ha, just kidding.