However, the road – Route 4031, which runs parallel to the runway at Phuket International Airport – will remain closed until long-term measures have been completed, Vice Governor Khajornkiet Rakpanichmanee revealed yesterday (Sept 7).
V/Governor Khajornkiet delivered the news at a meeting of officials at Thalang District Office.
Local officials quickly removed the debris and cleared the road as a short-term solution after the landslide on Aug 31, V/Gov Khajornkiet explained. (See story here).
“Next, Phuket International Airport (PIA) and Aerothai (the government agency for air traffic controllers) will have workers cover the embankment surface with plastic to prevent rain from saturating the soil and causing a further landslide.
“But for the long-term solution, the area will be reshaped to make it less steep and the embankment will be sealed with cement,” he added.
The long-term preventative measures will cost about B4 million to complete, which the PIA and Aerothai will fund entirely, V/Gov Khajornkiet explained.
“The Highways Department will take care of project design and the reshaping of the embankment to make the road wider and so it will not be so close to the fence,” he said.
“The road remains closed and workers have place barriers and put up signs to warn motorists of the potential danger at the exit and entrance to this road,” V/Gov Khajornkiet noted.
“I urge all motorists to avoid the area until the work has been completed and the road reopens. Until then, please use alternative routes. I know that might take a bit longer, but it is safer,” he concluded.