Mr Samak told The Phuket News that he hopes he will receive approval of the budget before December, when he wants to begin repairs.
In the meantime, he said, “We started making temporary repairs on Saturday, using the gabion boxes [mesh structures to contain rocks that will stabilise the hillside beneath the collapsed road].
“This will cost B3 million. I can take that from emergency funding. We have already prepared lanes for traffic while this is done.”
Once the B20 million in funding is acquired, he said permanent repairs will be made using a technique known as soil nailing.
The soil will be compacted and then the outside covered with reinforced concrete or shotcrete. “Nails” – effectively large expansion bolts – will then be driven through the concrete and deep into the soil to contain it.
Provided that the budget is received, he said, work will start in December and will take about four months to complete.