PHUKET: Two radical routes are being proposed to give Phuket an alternative to the sole north-south Thepkasattri Road route that can become slow and has been blocked by crashes.
The routes are both being examined closely and the likelihood is that a second highway route to Phuket International Airport will win approval next year.
Although Bali and Phuket are seen as regional rivals with each having advantages, Phuket is a clear winner when it comes to roads.
Bali tourism is being choked todeath by gridlock. Provision for road-widening and forward planning on Phuket has been exceptional when it comes to roads.
Phuket has 11 road-widening projects to expand existing thoroughfares from two lanes to four lanes, and seven bypass plans for areas where the growth of communities has created slow through traffic bottlenecks.
The essential shorter route from Chalong to Patong through the hills now has a 100 million baht budget and will almost certainly win approval.
The link from the road by the Luang Pu Supa Temple in Chalong to Patong's HarSip Pee Road will dramatically speed up travel between the west coast hub and the island's south and south east.
Perhaps as important is the alternative north-south highway that would prevent tourists and travellers missing flights if there are hold-ups in Thepkasattri Road.
Much to the joy of those who travel regularly to and from Phuket International Airport, the airport link from Thepkasattri Road has just been broadened from four two lanes to four, reducing travelling times and improving safety.
The same kind of transformation has already come in other parts of Phuket - and the second north-south highway will also add to Phuket's appeal for residents and visitors.
Two alternatives are being looked at and have already been the subject of public meetings, says the Director of Phuket's Department of Highways, Samak Lordwonghad.
The first alternative would mean travellers from Phuket airport ignoring the left turn to Thepkasattri Road and continuing down route 4031, the Thepkasattri-Nai Yang Road.
About three kilometres down the road - which would be widened from the existing two lanes to four - a right turn would lead south to Phuket City, intersecting with the Bypass Road opposite the Outlook shopping mall.
The second option continues to use the broadened road from Thepkasattri Road to Phuket airport.
But instead of turning left or right at the junction, continues through the huge billboards to take a route down Phuket's east coast, rejoining Thepkasattri Road in Phuket City at Kor Kaew.
Unlike some other departments, Highways is reasonably visionary and looks at Phuket's future needs five and 10 years from now.
The routes are both being examined closely and the likelihood is that a second highway route to Phuket International Airport will win approval next year.
Although Bali and Phuket are seen as regional rivals with each having advantages, Phuket is a clear winner when it comes to roads.
Bali tourism is being choked todeath by gridlock. Provision for road-widening and forward planning on Phuket has been exceptional when it comes to roads.
Phuket has 11 road-widening projects to expand existing thoroughfares from two lanes to four lanes, and seven bypass plans for areas where the growth of communities has created slow through traffic bottlenecks.
The essential shorter route from Chalong to Patong through the hills now has a 100 million baht budget and will almost certainly win approval.
The link from the road by the Luang Pu Supa Temple in Chalong to Patong's HarSip Pee Road will dramatically speed up travel between the west coast hub and the island's south and south east.
Perhaps as important is the alternative north-south highway that would prevent tourists and travellers missing flights if there are hold-ups in Thepkasattri Road.
Much to the joy of those who travel regularly to and from Phuket International Airport, the airport link from Thepkasattri Road has just been broadened from four two lanes to four, reducing travelling times and improving safety.
The same kind of transformation has already come in other parts of Phuket - and the second north-south highway will also add to Phuket's appeal for residents and visitors.
Two alternatives are being looked at and have already been the subject of public meetings, says the Director of Phuket's Department of Highways, Samak Lordwonghad.
The first alternative would mean travellers from Phuket airport ignoring the left turn to Thepkasattri Road and continuing down route 4031, the Thepkasattri-Nai Yang Road.
About three kilometres down the road - which would be widened from the existing two lanes to four - a right turn would lead south to Phuket City, intersecting with the Bypass Road opposite the Outlook shopping mall.
The second option continues to use the broadened road from Thepkasattri Road to Phuket airport.
But instead of turning left or right at the junction, continues through the huge billboards to take a route down Phuket's east coast, rejoining Thepkasattri Road in Phuket City at Kor Kaew.
Unlike some other departments, Highways is reasonably visionary and looks at Phuket's future needs five and 10 years from now.
I have driven around in Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos. Burma, Vietnam and Indonesia I've just visited, not driven around myself.
I've always thought of the road network in Thailand to be above average for this region. Only Malaysia has a better one. Singapore is not really a fair comparison, being just 30% bigger than Phuket.
Too bad the driving culture is nowhere near on par with the quality of the road network but that's a separate issue for the police to address.
Posted by Andrew on September 2, 2012 12:40