Six tunnels touted in revamped Phuket light-rail plans

[webfact]

Six tunnels touted in revamped Phuket light-rail plans

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The latest proposal for Phuket's light-rail project is build six tunnels for the rail cars to pass through instead of affecting traffic. Image: OTP

 

PHUKET: -- The revised plans for the decades-in-coming Phuket light-rail project shown to local residents this week now include six tunnels for the rail cars to pass through in order to avoid causing more traffic woes on the island.

 

All six tunnels are proposed to be in Thalang, with none further south than the busy intersection in front of the Tesco mall south of Thalang Town.

 

The plans were shown at two public feedback meetings: one at Thalang District Office on Monday (Feb 6), the other at Wichit Municipality offices yesterday (Feb 7).

 

Nirun Ketkao, Acting Director of Bureau of Regional Transport and Traffic Promotion, confirmed to that the proposed locations of the six tunnels were:

 

Tha Chatchai Checkpoint, at the northern tip of the island;

Thepkrasattri Rd, in front of Hongsyok Bamgrung School, in Baan Suan Maphrao, Thalang;

Thepkrasattri Rd, just south of the Rawdatul Jannah Mosque (the “Baan Mai Khao Mosque”) – about 1.9km north of the turnoff to Phuket Airport;

Thepkrasattri Rd, near the Khun Mae Ju store just north of Muang Thalang School;

Thepkrasattri Rd, in front of Thalang Police Station;

Thepkrasattri Rd, in front of Tesco mall, Thalang.

 

Mr Nirun also confirmed that the cost of building all six tunnels had yet to be estimated. “We cannot estimate cost of tunnels at this stage as the budget for these has yet to be calculated,” he said.

 

However, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, Director General of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, confirmed that B23.4 billion had been already allocated as the budget for the project – but that was for providing the tracks, 23 stops and rail cars operating from Phuket International Airport to Chalong Circle only.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/six-tunnels-touted-in-revamped-phuket-light-rail-plans-60952.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-02-08

[madmitch]

Operational in 2021? It'll beat the Chalong Underpass!

 

And not a mention of tourists in the article. 23bn baht is a huge budget for a project that'll be mainly used by students going to and from school.

 

 

[Valentine]

I wonder why Benz springs to mind at the mention of all these tunnels. Surely traffic will be more affected around Phuket town area than elsewhere so why no tunnels there & again why not go up instead of down which I think I answered already.

[ChrisY1]

If this project ever starts.....unbridled graft and corruption will be the name of the game....... which so often results in down-graded material quality, massive time and budget overruns and poor quality end product, riddled with flaws.

[Reigntax]

There will be 3 flying submarines before any of these tunnels are built.

[schlog]

Totally insane plan to built 3 tunnels in Maikhao.

To burn the budget better built all tunnels on the police region 8 headquater land in Maikhao.

[Psimbo]

Ah, ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!

[bokningar]

Yes, why in Goods name would they opt for a sky train instead? 
It would not take space from existing roads nearly as much as ground tracks.  
A lot of it could be pre-fabricated and have quality checked before use (if you so like). 
No need for expensive tunnels. 
It would have less impact on traffic during the construction work.  

So all in all, no real arguments for a different way of doing this project. 

[chercheur888]

I assume that the light rail will be electric.

Where do they get the electricity from as it seems that the provider is already struggling to provide electricity under current circumstances?

And I am not even mentioning frequent power cuts.

How will they pass by the finished or nearly finished tunnels?

[Destiny1990]

When construction starts?

[Reigntax]

7 hours ago, chercheur888 said:

I assume that the light rail will be electric.

Where do they get the electricity from as it seems that the provider is already struggling to provide electricity under current circumstances?

And I am not even mentioning frequent power cuts.

How will they pass by the finished or nearly finished tunnels?

 

On the junta's form it will be steam and powered by Chinese coke