On Monday (November 3), officials at the monthly Governor’s press briefing said that the underpass is now 86 per cent complete and will be finished by the end of the year.
“The wet weather is slowing construction [at Darasamut] and the Cabinet recently decided to extend the contract for to March 5 next year,” Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luaedwonghad said.
“In this moment, most of the work at the Darasamut underpass is taking place underground with electronic and safety systems being installed, along with resurfacing the roads above. So we expect the project to finish at least two months early,” he added.
Asked about penalties that the contractor, Italian Thai, must pay for not completing to the original sehdule in the contract, he said, “Because the Cabinet approved extension of the contract due to flooding problems causing delays, they will not have to pay any penalties.”
The news is not so good for the other underpass being built on the bypass, at the Samkong intersection next to Tesco-Lotus. Mr Samak said that one is 36 per cent complete and is not expected to be finished before the end of June next year.
“There were a lot of problems with water pipes and power poles obstructing parts of the project, which slowed down the work. However, at the moment, everything is being done. We can continue our job without problems.”
However, neither project will be finished in time for the Asian Beach Games, so the Highways Office and Phuket Provincial Police are to coordinate on solving traffic problems during that period.