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Phuket's Patong Tunnel Likely to Have Tollway

Saturday, October 6, 2012
PHUKET: The Patong Hill Tunnel is the only major project on Phuket that has been approved and fully funded, a public meeting heard yesterday.

The meeting, attended by the Transport Minister, Jarupong Rungsuwan, assessed projects across the southern provinces.

On Phuket, the tunnel will probably include a tollway along the 3.8 kilometre route to recoup the six billion baht outlay.

One billion baht of that will be spent on compulsory purchases of the land involved, the meeting heard.

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin reckons that 34,000 vehicles currently go across the hill both ways. he believes a tunnel will be a much safer option.

Motorcycles are likely to have their own ''tunnel'' under the project, separated from larger vehicles.

The tunnel would also provide an alternative escape route in a tsunami alert, the meeting heard.

There's no budget as yet for the rail or light rail link planned between Surat Thani and Phang Nga-Phuket.

Still being looked at is the Andaman Sea-Gulf of Thailand land bridge, which will ultimately link both Thai coasts along 142 kilometres at a cost of 42,782 million baht over five to seven years.

Comments

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mmm let me think, going over the hill is free, use the tunnel and I pay, given most will not want to pay, is there a likihood the tunnel could become a white elephant, as for it being a "safer" option, safer than what, still have the same idiotic driving, still have buses catching fire, and in a tunnel.

Posted by dbate_me on October 6, 2012 16:09

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[quote]
The tunnel would also provide an alternative escape route in a tsunami alert, the meeting heard.
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And exactly why would anyone feel the need to flee through a tunnel from a tsunami when they are several hundred metres up a hill???

Posted by Simon Luttrell on October 6, 2012 17:46

Editor Comment:

I guess people wouldn't be tempted to park, blocking the road and watching all the action, from a tunnel as they did from the hilltop.

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having a toll will also add to backing traffic up even more during heavy traffic times

Posted by sky on October 6, 2012 18:07

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Free versus pay. Not bl--dy likley. Tunnel will go empty except for the rich. Why bother with the tunnel anyway? Yes I can see it's merits, having a toll road is like paying for favours to recoup your election money, HUH? Wont work in this neck of the woods.

Posted by Robin on October 6, 2012 20:00

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Don't worry.. before it will be built all of us that are reading will be dead..

Posted by dave on October 6, 2012 22:58

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I wouldn't use it, free or toll. 5bn to built it but by the time all the graft as been paid that's cut by at least half. How safe is the tunnel going to be.
I'll take the hill.

Posted by Graham on October 6, 2012 23:12

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Don't forget that 30-50% of money in these projects are back handers/corruption money (According to Thai Government report).

So now they need a toll to make even more money. The the taxi drivers will charge more money to drive to and from Patong.

Spend the 6bn baht improving Phuket wisely.

Posted by Tbs on October 7, 2012 04:49

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Phuket's main attraction is its beaches. Yet these are being progressively spoiled by garbage, overdevelopment and sewerage. I'm sure a fraction of that budget could improve and preserve Phuket in a way that tourists will appreciate, rather than a major project that will simply shave a few minutes' off the drive from the airport. The main problem with the road over the hill is the inability of drivers to drive appropriately for the road conditions. Give the locals a six lane highway and they will still kill themselves just as quickly by driving too fast. May as well stick with the scenic route.

Posted by barry on October 7, 2012 12:51

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Any engineer from any European country around the Alpes could make a easy project to improve the actual road with a very small budget compared to the tunnel and wiht all the money saved better" improve and preserve Phuket in a way that tourists will appreciate" the iland forever.

Posted by richard on October 7, 2012 20:06

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traffic is a nightmare now!

Posted by patty on December 7, 2012 09:27


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