Underpass planned for Thainaan intersection
Traffic flow along Chaloemphrakiat Ror IX Rd (the bypass road) is likely to be greatly improved soon by the addition of an underpass at the Thainaan intersections and complete resurfacing of the road.
Tuesday 18 October 2011, 06:07PM
Phuket Highways Department Chief Arun Saneeh told The Phuket News today (October 18) that the department has applied for funding totalling B1.3 billion to build underpasses at both the Thainaan and Tesco-Lotus intersections.
He explained, “The Cabinet has given initial approval for the B600 million for the Thainaan intersection. It will have to go through one more round of discussion in Cabinet but I’m 90 per cent sure we’ll get the budget by the end of this year.”
The budget for the Tesco intersection underpass may have to wait rather longer for approval, he said. Consideration by Cabinet has been postponed until 2013 “because the government is more concerned with allocating funds for dealing with the current flood problems.”
The department is also preparing to apply for funds to resurface the bypass road, which is coming up to five years old; roads managed by highways departments in Thailand are usually refurbished after five years.
Mr Arun said, “We will apply for the budget for restoration of the bypass road after October next year, for inclusion in the 2013 financial year. By that time the road will be almost six years so the budget should be approved. We estimate the cost will be at least B50 million.”
