PHUKET'S forward-and-reverse bus depot is to finally open in the middle of October after a deal-setting meeting today.
The buses will try a novel method to end the impasse over how vehicles should exit from the new station. Entering Phuket's main north-south thoroughfare, Thepkasattri Road, has always been the bugbear.
Locals have never been entirely happy with the various plans for the buses to leave. Now buses will head south towards Phuket City, sticking to the left-hand lane . . . then swing into the existing U-turn space if they are heading north, as most will be.
The revolutionary concept will be tested for three months. If it works, planners will persevere.
A meeting at Provincial Hall involving Vice Governor Nivit Aroonrat, the Director of the Road Department, Aroon Snech, the Director of the Transport Office, Kanok Siripanichkoon, and local people, including the Mayor of Rassada, Surithin Leanaudom, plus police from Phuket City, opted to try the new approach.
The initial concept was to carve a new space through the median strip directly opposite the new bus station. But this would have pointed all the departing buses in the direction of the home of the mayor.
The nine rai of land for the bus station was bought for 80 million baht and the building cost 47 million baht to build.
The old bus station, crowded onto two rai in Phang Nga Road, almost in the centre of Phuket City, has been operating since 1983. Traditional seung taew buses that link the island's villages will shift from the downtown market when the interprovincial buses move to the new bus station.
Police have closed other turning-points in Thepkassatri Road when they proved to be prone to frequent traffic crashes and injuries and deaths.
Phuket's Killer Corner: Will It Maim Again?The buses will try a novel method to end the impasse over how vehicles should exit from the new station. Entering Phuket's main north-south thoroughfare, Thepkasattri Road, has always been the bugbear.
Locals have never been entirely happy with the various plans for the buses to leave. Now buses will head south towards Phuket City, sticking to the left-hand lane . . . then swing into the existing U-turn space if they are heading north, as most will be.
The revolutionary concept will be tested for three months. If it works, planners will persevere.
A meeting at Provincial Hall involving Vice Governor Nivit Aroonrat, the Director of the Road Department, Aroon Snech, the Director of the Transport Office, Kanok Siripanichkoon, and local people, including the Mayor of Rassada, Surithin Leanaudom, plus police from Phuket City, opted to try the new approach.
The initial concept was to carve a new space through the median strip directly opposite the new bus station. But this would have pointed all the departing buses in the direction of the home of the mayor.
The nine rai of land for the bus station was bought for 80 million baht and the building cost 47 million baht to build.
The old bus station, crowded onto two rai in Phang Nga Road, almost in the centre of Phuket City, has been operating since 1983. Traditional seung taew buses that link the island's villages will shift from the downtown market when the interprovincial buses move to the new bus station.
Police have closed other turning-points in Thepkassatri Road when they proved to be prone to frequent traffic crashes and injuries and deaths.
PHOTO ALBUM The most dangerous intersection on Phuket has a horrific record of deaths and injuries. Police failed to close it once. They are now trying to shut it for a second time.
Phuket's Killer Corner: Will It Maim Again?
Patong Hill Bus Rolls Back, Halts Traffic
Traffic Alert Friday night traffic between Patong and Phuket City was seriously disrupted when a bus rolled down the hill and only came to stop when it turned side on, blocking the notorious hill road.
Patong Hill Bus Rolls Back, Halts Traffic
Phuket Runaway Bus Leaves Trail of Destruction
A tour bus ploughs down Patong Hill, collecting a series of other vehicles on its runaway plunge. Fortunately nobody was seriously injured.
Phuket Runaway Bus Leaves Trail of Destruction
Phuket Helmet Crackdown Encourages Road Safety
PHOTO ALBUM From July 1 Phuket will see a crackdown on people on motorcycles who choose not to wear helmets. It's a sign of a growing awareness on the island about road safety.
Phuket Helmet Crackdown Encourages Road Safety
Horrific Crash Kills 16 on Bus Bound for Phuket
Latest A shocking bus crash in the neighboring province of Krabi kills 16 people as they were heading for Phuket, highlighting the need for improved road safety.
Horrific Crash Kills 16 on Bus Bound for Phuket
"The nine rai of land for the bus station was bought for 80 million baht and the building cost 47 million baht to build."
Has suburban scrub land and concrete/asphalt become pricier than gold, or is this just another reminder that nothing changes here?
Posted by Treelover on August 26, 2010 16:30