Pattaya tunnel remains closed for Songkran

[Rimmer]

Pattaya tunnel remains closed for Songkran

PATTAYA:--Highway officials hit reverse on their plans to open the Central Road bypass tunnel for Songkran, saying safety concerns outweighed the desire to relieve Sukhumvit Road traffic congestion during the Thai New Year.

 

Hitting the brakes April 5, the Department of Rural Roads said the under-construction tunnel’s security and emergency systems were not ready to handle the near-gridlock crush of cars expected April 9-20.

 

Roads department construction chief Suraphan Trirach said the security system needs to be tested continuously until it is safe for the highest-volume traffic. There also were fears the many vehicles could damage the tunnel, where the interior still is not complete.

 

Instead, the department reopened lanes on Sukhumvit Road that have been closed for about two years.

 

Read more: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-tunnel-remains-closed-songkran-170629

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2017-04-15

[RealisticRon]

Sensible move to be fair.

[joepattaya1961]

keep it closed for ever and it will never damage........then at least take care that the road out of the tunnel is 100% available on both sides

 

[GaryB1263]

Is there a post or website that details this tunnel project in Pattaya? I am still not sure what the goal is. I thought it was only on the Sukhumvit?

[JSixpack]

4 hours ago, GaryB1263 said:

Is there a post or website that details this tunnel project in Pattaya? I am still not sure what the goal is. I thought it was only on the Sukhumvit?

1. No. 2. Goal is to help alleviate the traffic bottleneck at Suk & Pattaya Klang and provide entertainment for TVF posters, which seems to be ending now. 3. It's only on Suk or technically under Suk.

Edited April 23, 2017 by JSixpack

[GaryB1263]

I hope it's very successful. 

[johng]

I hope it's very successful. 

I hope I win a gazillion pounds on the euro lottery !

[wpcoe]

I'm still confused on the reason for the delay of the tunnel opening.Earlier reports said it was due to having yet to install an overpass with elevators (for handicap access) at both ends.  What's that got to do with not opening the tunnel for traffic?  What are the security and emergency systems referenced in this thread's OP?  It appears from the photo that lighting is functional.  Is it installation of those roadside emergency phone boxes that's the sticking point?  Does such a relatively short underpass tunnel require exhaust fans?

[GaryB1263]

I would like an one aerial photo. Just to clear a few questions.

 

[onemorechang]

50 minutes ago, GaryB1263 said:

I would like an one aerial photo. Just to clear a few questions.

 

I Think these are for sale in pattaya.

or try Google Earth,

 

 

Edited April 24, 2017 by onemorechang

[dksharron]

Is it only one lane in each direction?

[GaryB1263]

10 minutes ago, dksharron said:

Is it only one lane in each direction?

Good question.

[JSixpack]

5 minutes ago, GaryB1263 said:

Good question.

 

Two lanes each direction.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2017 by JSixpack

[Don Mega]

15 minutes ago, dksharron said:

Is it only one lane in each direction?

2 lanes in each direction

[JSixpack]

8 hours ago, wpcoe said:

I'm still confused on the reason for the delay of the tunnel opening.Earlier reports said it was due to having yet to install an overpass with elevators (for handicap access) at both ends.  What's that got to do with not opening the tunnel for traffic?  What are the security and emergency systems referenced in this thread's OP?  It appears from the photo that lighting is functional.  Is it installation of those roadside emergency phone boxes that's the sticking point?  Does such a relatively short underpass tunnel require exhaust fans?

 

I think it's really not necessary to know all the reasons. In fact the more the detail given the more our ace TVF Tunnel Engineers will sneer & cavil. Could have been a guard rail or other protective barrier for all we know. Suffice it to say that if the Thais think it's not ready then it really, really must not be ready. Meanwhile let's be thankful they opened the lanes from Pattaya Klang. SO nice after the last two years of bottleneck.

Edited April 24, 2017 by JSixpack