A new hub? Underpass hub of South East Asia.

Posted by Arun Muruga on September 12, 2015 15:39

A flyover at the airport road junction would block all those lovely billboards. Heaven forbid that should happen !

Posted by Discover Thainess on September 12, 2015 17:40

It's great - you won't see the billboards!

Posted by Logic on September 12, 2015 18:13

Phuket could really use an underpass (under) the monument.

Posted by reader on September 12, 2015 19:28

Yes Reader,tunnel under the monument or blow it up.
It is a constant area of danger to everyone.
Failing that, close thenround about forever.
The turn arounds work well and cheap too?
Just some witches hats and a cop needed.

Posted by Robin on September 12, 2015 21:00

Next there will be an underpass under the hub.

Posted by geoff on September 13, 2015 01:07

Flyovers are cheaper, quicker to build, cause less disruption during construction and do not flood. They can also be quite attractive if well designed. Now why would they want to build expensive underpasses? Mmmm, let me think.

Posted by Tamvong on September 13, 2015 17:27

Tamvong,
Flyovers are much more expensive than underpasses and they require engineering analysis and expertise to a much higher standard. They require analysis for wind, earthquakes, fatigue, harmonic vibration, linear expansion, crack control, pre camber cast into large spans.

An underpass could be designed by an engineer during lunch time and and overpass would take a team of engineers months to consider each structural element based on the individual geometry of the design.

Lets not even consider the quality control requirements during construction.

Yes, in certain situations they may provide less disruption but so can an underpass if sufficient land area around the construction site is available and the construction works programmed and managed with this in mind.

The comparison between and underpass and overpass is like building a single story house to a 20 story building.

Posted by MoW on September 13, 2015 20:25

MoW, you often sound like an expert on a wide range of subjects. I've been in the construction industry for over 30 years. I'm not going to spout off with a bunch of big impressive engineering terms, but I couldn't help making a comment. Most of the engineering related to the construction of an overpass is known. It's not like they haven't built hundreds of them across the country already. Harmonic vibration, linear expansion....Blah blah. This is first year engineering....Were not talking about the Tacoma narrows bridge here. This is a short-span overpass. They would have to consider the soil conditions and load factors as in any project, but more-so in the case of an underpass. An overpass should be faster and easier to build, which should make it cheaper as well. I usually agree with your comments, but I think your wrong this time...

Posted by Tim on September 14, 2015 10:34

Tim,
If what you say is correct, set up a construction company, offer an altenative design to an underpass at cheaper cost and Im sure you will get the job.

Whether you get the opportunity to finish it with the shirt still on your back will be another story

Posted by MoW on September 14, 2015 13:36