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Open at last, Phuket's new link to Phang Nga, as designers saw it

Phuket's New Bridge Opens, More Traffic Lights Coming in Southern Phuket

Monday, August 1, 2011
PHUKET: The new road link between Phuket and the mainland - officially known as Sarasin Bridge 2 - opened at 8am today with traffic leaving the island enjoying views across the old Sarasin Bridge.

A sala has been added and the central portion of the historic Sarasin Bridge has been elevated as a tourist walking attraction, and raised so yachts can pass beneath.

Other big changes are coming to roads on Phuket. Already, two new sets of traffic lights have been installed between Chalong Circle and Phuket City on Chao Fa Road West.

And more are to come between Chalong Circle and Cape Promthep in Phuket's far south, officials have told Phuketwan. A central median strip in to be added for virtually the entire journey, with five new u-turn points being created.

Other traffic lights will go in as deemed necessary down Viset Road and along the road to Cape Promthep, say officials at Rawai tessaban council.

Commuter times between southern Phuket and Phuket City are likely to be slower as Phuket's safety experts deem speed as one of the causes of too many crashes. News of the new measures is likely to trigger a reaction from some residents.

The cost is being met with the help of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation.

Work on the new Sarasin Bridge 2 - at a cost of 377 million baht - began on June 30, 2009. Traffic was temporarily diverted onto the Thepkasattri Bridge, which now reverts to a one-way bridge for traffic coming on to Phuket.

The small beaches on both sides of the bridges are expected to become stopping off points as tourists explore Phuket more fully.

Comments

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Stoplights are worthless if people ignore them. Every traffic light on this island is ignored by selfish and dangerous drivers. Fact is the police dept isn't funded properly, increase your funds by giving large fines to these offenders. Station a policeman at a light and another at the next light. When they have to stop for the next light walk up to them and give them a ticket, this will increase your revenues tremendously and teach these bad drivers a lesson.

Posted by Road ruler on August 1, 2011 09:06

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Please could the Heroines Monument be relocated to the field on which the actual battle took place, making it safer for people to visit it.

Then replace it with traffic lights. The circle is a hazard to all and sundry as no one knows how to use a circle correctly.
Thank you.

Posted by Robin on August 1, 2011 12:16

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More new traffic lights..sure the lights slow the traffic down, more safe? lets wait and see..the congestion at the lights and red light running is worse than ever...the motorcycles take over the road left and right and in front of all the cars etc, when the lights change, its chaos and dangerous..lets wait and see how the traffic coming over the bridge will react.

Posted by johndev on August 1, 2011 15:46

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I don't mind traffic lights so much they do slow down the traffic somewhat but it's the crazy long wait for the light just beyond the main entrance to Land and House on your way to Chalong circle that is way way beyond reasonable.

Posted by mike on August 1, 2011 17:15

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Most motorists ignore them and for a good reason; on the Chao Fa Road the light at Soi Saan Saam Kuan-oo is on all day. It is a tiny Soi and 99% of the time not a single car/bike turns in there or out. Then there is the one at Sun Palm village, also a joke and a waste of time. All these lights do is create traffic jams and make life harder...like living in Bangkok.

Posted by Ian on August 2, 2011 07:07


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