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Phuket's Traffic Growth Adds Pressure for Patong Tunnel
By Chutima Sidasathian Wednesday, April 24, 2013
PHUKET: The increasing number of cars on Phuket's roads is adding pressure for approval of the contentious Patong Tunnel, a public meeting heard today.
An Environmental Impact Assessment and research study into the benefits and effects of the tunnel is expected to be complete on May 14 next year - just as the first of Phuket's three underpasses nears completion.
Awareness of Phuket's growing number of vehicles appears to be adding support for the tunnel with 300 people turning out for today's public meeting at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City.
Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, perhaps the tunnel's greatest advocate, was in the audience. He heard Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin say that 1500 new vehicles are being restered on Phuket each month.
Aiyanat Tinapai, chief of the Expressway Authority of Thailand, said that the Phuket tunnel would need to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.
The tunnel would run for three kilometres and have four lanes, he said. Precise entry points on either side of Patong Hill have yet to be determined.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Surely a far more effective and cost efficient way to ease traffic would seem to be to put the new road over the hill from Chalong (most of the route is already in place) and connect Kamala to Kathu. This would channel a lot of traffic away from the hill and end speculation on a project that is never realistically going to happen. Before you rant Mr Ed this is an OPINION!
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
April 24, 2013 12:44
Editor Comment:
I don't have problems with valid opinions.
Instead of 2 very expensive tunnels, I wonder if anyone has looked into cutting into the mountain and making the hill less steep for cars to drive over.
Surely excavating 50m off the highest point would make the gradient much less dangerous and would be infinitely cheaper. Use the leftover soil to fill in the adjoining "valley to flatten the road leading to the smaller hill descending into Patong.
Since the mountain is mostly soft red soil anyway, this would be even easier than usual.
Main concern would be constructing proper support structure for the mountain sides not to cave in. Cover them in concrete as is usual around the world and even done at several locations on Phuket.
Posted by
Stephen
on
April 24, 2013 12:57
Mr Aiyanat Tinapai is right, not only is the tunnel a logistical problem but also he must consider foremost the safety aspect in the event of a man-made or natural disaster, and what health & safety precautions would be adopted. For example, there would have to be an escape route either from the top or a parallel service tunnel to evacuate users in the event of an emergency. Either way it will be a costly affair.
Posted by
reader
on
April 24, 2013 14:02
@Stephen...my thoughts exactly....and I believe it would be far less expensive...if a super road must be built connecting Kathu to Patong, that sounds more feasible...However the suggestions from Mr Rae make a lot of sense as well...Personally I feel making a tunnel or super road from Kathu to Patong will only invite more traffic...and my question has always been..where are all the added cars, trucks and busses that will come into Patong go???..where are they going to park...Patongs infratructure can't possibly handle the onslaught of what will come..have they even thought aboiut this?
Posted by
sky
on
April 24, 2013 15:56
I do not understand why they would want to encourage MORE vehicles coming into Patong, where would you put them. Seems like a scary place to be, considering how people drive, lack of maintenance on vehicles, never mind lack of any form of maintenance on any infrastructure. Why pay a toll, when Patong hill is free?
Posted by
Phuket_IOC
on
April 24, 2013 15:59
@Ed, do you have any news about the road Patong-Chalong over thanon 50 Pi?
I live in Chalong, work in Patong, and just dream of it...
Posted by
william
on
April 24, 2013 17:32
Editor Comment:
No timetable yet. I think the budget is all that's holding it up.
Isnt that what it could look like missing a few hundred massive billboards, I hope the designers have considered what safeguards to put in place should there be a accident in the tunnel which could cause a massive concertina and fatalities if not considered, other than that serious concern its looking good.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
April 25, 2013 03:49
If they do build a tunnel, personally I think it would make sense that the tunnel be one way.
Into Patong via tunnel and out of patong via the hill.
The same we did in the UK with the Dartford Tunnel and Bridge.
But imo the tunnel is a huge waste of money. Better solutions have already been said on this forum.
Posted by
Tbs
on
April 25, 2013 10:54
Ed, now I understand why you're so unpopular with readers and commentators:
every occasion is good for you to argue or irritate those who simply expresses an opinion or an idea. Who does not think like you, in your opinion, is stupid, whereas the arrogant are you who always claim the last word. It will not be always like this because a force pulling the rope is going to break!
Posted by
James
on
April 25, 2013 13:41
Editor Comment:
Have you stumbled into the wrong thread, James? It's difficult to figure what you're on about.
Ed, publish all my comments, if you think you're an honest journalist!
Posted by
james
on
April 25, 2013 18:29
Editor Comment:
I'm an honest journalist but honest journalism has nothing to do with your comments. Unless you were at the meeting, you won't quote what was said here. And you have your facts wrong. Find out who runs the Patong tuk-tuks for a start. So . . . get your facts straight. Stop confusing your comments with journalism. Then you might have a bit more published. Might.
Ed, bla, bla, bla!
Publish what Pian Keesin also said in the meeting that you haven't published, and what I marked!
Let the readers and the commentators
say if my comment is wrong or you want to cover a mistake from your reporters?
Posted by
james
on
April 25, 2013 21:04
Editor Comment:
We don't carry quotes lifted by commenters from other sources, James, but Phuketwan has more than once published similar comments in the past. Do you know what that means, James? It means that what you're telling us is not news. Getting something right and being original - using your own eyes and ears - would be a novel experience. Please try it. bla, bla, bla, by the way, is a cliche. A bad one.
@james I have a solution start your own Phuket newspaper, I look forward to your first edition and editorial comment!
Posted by
slickmelb
on
April 27, 2013 01:22
(moderated)
Posted by
James
on
April 27, 2013 07:52
Editor Comment:
When the BBC begins quoting CNN and Fox News reports what CBC says, we'll take your advice, James. If you prefer what you read at other news outlets, fine. Just don't bother us by relaying information that doesn't come from our own reporters. You seem to think you knowledge is more complete. Be content with that.
Ed, who is disonest is also spiteful! That is the cliche' of your personality, " not mine blah, blah! "
It's really strange that you don't want to publish, for the second time . . . (moderated)
Posted by
James
on
April 27, 2013 19:37
Editor Comment:
We don't publish quotes and information lifted from rival news sites because we have no way of authenticating the information and prefer to trust our own sources. It's dishonest of you to lift information without nominating your source.
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Surely a far more effective and cost efficient way to ease traffic would seem to be to put the new road over the hill from Chalong (most of the route is already in place) and connect Kamala to Kathu. This would channel a lot of traffic away from the hill and end speculation on a project that is never realistically going to happen. Before you rant Mr Ed this is an OPINION!
Posted by Mister Ree on April 24, 2013 12:44
Editor Comment:
I don't have problems with valid opinions.