CROSSING to the mainland and coming back to Phuket these days is an adventure, with both arrivals and departures merging onto Thepkasattri Bridge. This will continue for a whole year, until August next year, when the replacement for Sarasin Bridge is scheduled to open.

Phuketwan tested the approach ramp to the new, as yet unnamed bridge today. And we were probably the last people to get the chance to do it. It's the kind of ramp you've seen in the movies, leading up to a high jumping-off point.

The view is spectacular. We took it all in, and wished we could become cartoon characters for a few minutes and drive our imaginary vehicle off into the Phuket air . . . and the water below.

As we were driving back down, a scowling engineer was supervising two workers who were carrying up a detour arrow sign to prevent others from driving up there. You can see them in the last photo in the Photo Album.

The Director of Phuket Roads, Aroon Saneah, told Phuketwan this afternoon that the detour onto the Thepkasattri Bridge for outgoing traffic will continue for the next 12 months. The old Sarasin Bridge is being restructured and will be reopened at the same time as the new outgoing bridge.

The middle section of Sarasin is being raised, so that yachts can sail beneath it, and it will become a picture-postcard walking bridge. It's already beloved by fishermen and the new version sounds ideal for watching sunsets, another tourist must-see for Phuket.

Khun Aroon says the new bridge is 40 percent complete, and on schedule. We love watching people work, and the current construction is well worth a look. Three women were cleaning large nuts and bolts for use on the superstructure.

Three Burmese women walked past, so we followed them down back onto Phuket, then around under Thepkasattri Bridge, to a local market. We are glad we did.

It's one of the liveliest local markets on the island. Old and new mix perfectly here . . . just like the bridges. If you get the chance, don't miss it.