THALANG Road will never look the same. From this Friday, powerlines are going underground.
It's a pipedream come true for those who have long thought how pleasant the street would look without powerlines and other cables dangling in the way of the Sino-Portuguese period homes.
At a cost of 20 million, the handsome old street will be made over to the delight of every Old Phuket Town tourist with a camera.
Soi Romanee, even quainter, will get the same treatment.
Somjai Suwansupphana, director of Tessaban Phuket, told the media today that the area deserved to be treated properly if it was to become noted as Phuket City's arts and culture centre.
''Putting the telephone and electric cables underground with the water pipes will change the character of the street for the better,'' she said.
''It will also mean we can improve the street lighting and deal with the flooding issue.''
Thalang Road is the main venue for the old town's walking street festivals, when the road is closed to traffic and people enjoy the old heart of the town in traditional ways.
Telephone cables begin to go under on May 15 with work on the electric street lighting beginning in June. CCTV is going in at the same time.
Work is scheduled to be wrapped up by November 15. The road should not be closed to traffic, Khun Somjai said, but parking will probably be banned between 10am and 5pm.
The money has come from the tessaban, the Provincial Electricity Authority and the TOT.
Next in line for going underground: The downtown stretches of Yaowarat Road, Krabi Road and Dibuk Road and some parts of Thepkrassatri Road
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It's a pipedream come true for those who have long thought how pleasant the street would look without powerlines and other cables dangling in the way of the Sino-Portuguese period homes.
At a cost of 20 million, the handsome old street will be made over to the delight of every Old Phuket Town tourist with a camera.
Soi Romanee, even quainter, will get the same treatment.
Somjai Suwansupphana, director of Tessaban Phuket, told the media today that the area deserved to be treated properly if it was to become noted as Phuket City's arts and culture centre.
''Putting the telephone and electric cables underground with the water pipes will change the character of the street for the better,'' she said.
''It will also mean we can improve the street lighting and deal with the flooding issue.''
Thalang Road is the main venue for the old town's walking street festivals, when the road is closed to traffic and people enjoy the old heart of the town in traditional ways.
Telephone cables begin to go under on May 15 with work on the electric street lighting beginning in June. CCTV is going in at the same time.
Work is scheduled to be wrapped up by November 15. The road should not be closed to traffic, Khun Somjai said, but parking will probably be banned between 10am and 5pm.
The money has come from the tessaban, the Provincial Electricity Authority and the TOT.
Next in line for going underground: The downtown stretches of Yaowarat Road, Krabi Road and Dibuk Road and some parts of Thepkrassatri Road
Flu Cases Not Seen as 'New Blow' to Phuket
Latest With the economic downturn and the H1N1 virus as worldwide issues, the prime focus for Phuket is on being portrayed as a peaceful tourist destination during the Asean Plus Six Summit.
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Latest Phuket security debate: Can each country bring its own gunslingers?; Air fares cheapest in a decade; Thailand tourism plunges by 50 percent; swine flu confirmed in Thailand.
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Latest A mysterious Thai benefactor comes to the aid of British tourist Simon Burrowes, who suffered unfair punishment after swearing at Phuket airport. So long, Simon, and good luck!
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Wow, this is really encouraging news. A great start.
Posted by D on May 13, 2009 18:22