Heroines Monument to get B2.3bn underpass

PHUKET: The Department of Highways has announced a B2 billion project to build a three-lane underpass under the Heroines Monument to alleviate traffic in the area.

The news was announced by the Phuket Info Center today (Aug 2), by sharing a report by Thai-language national newspaper Daily News.

The Phuket office of the Department of highways has yet to announce the project, and even the Bureau of Surveying and Design Department, which has commissioned the feasibility study for the project announced the project by sharing the Daily News report.

The Department of Highways has confirmed that the Bureau of Surveying and Design has conducted a survey and design project of the Tha Reua Intersection (the formal name for the Heroines Monument roundabout), said the report.

“The Bureau has hired a group of study consultants to prepare an environmental impact report (EIA). The EIA report will be submitted to the responsible agency for approval,” the report added.

Construction is expected to begin in 2024, and the underpass to open for service in 2027, the report noted.

A construction budget of B2.365 billion has been allocated for the project.

The consultants hired for the project were named as M.A. Consultant Co Ltd, V Engineering Consultant Co Ltd, Bangkok Engineering Consultant Co Ltd and Entic Co Ltd.

“At present, the Tha Reua Intersection has a heavy traffic volume and frequent accidents because it is an intersection of the main highway in Phuket [Route 402, locally called Thepkrasattri Rd],” the report explained.

The underpass is planned to be three lanes wide under the monument along Thepkrasattri Rd.

Two lanes of the lanes will be northbound, with each lane 3.25 metres wide, and one lane will be southbound, 4.5m wide.

At the ground level there will be two lanes on each side, with each lane 2.1m to 2.7m wide, and the plan is to “maintain a two-lane roundabout around the monument along with designing a traffic signal system at intersections for safety,” the report said.

“When the project is completed, it will increase the efficiency of traveling to be more convenient, faster and safer, while Increasing the elegance of the important landmark monument as well as promoting tourism of Phuket,” the report concluded.

The redesign plans include raising the monument itself by 90cm amid a gardened forecourt where visitors can come to pay their respects.

Access to the monument will be by walkways leading to the Robinson department store on the northwest corner of the intersection and to the closed jewellery retail centre (the building that looks like a museum) on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Stairs and elevators will be installed to make visiting the shrine accessible to all people, and a multipurpose hall will be built to showcase the legendary tale of the island’s two heroines.

People wanting to visit the monument will be able to park at either the jewellery retail centre building or the Robinson department store, the report said.

Why constructing a 3 lane underpass as the center lane will become a concrete block lane? Keep it simple and cheaper: Relocate the monument away of the middle of a highway and construct a fly-over. Don't talk about 'eye sore'. We have that already on polluted Phuket. ( bill boards and rubbish)

Or.. teach Thai drivers how to use a circle- enter in the left lane if traveling through, and migrate out if you are going to exit to the left. Big signs explaining this might help. Of course this is just another pork project like making a runway between Ban Don and Thalang but leaving the bottleneck at the lights which was the real problem

Another 3 years of traffic chaos waiting for another underpass supposed to relieve congestion when all that is needed is for Thais to follow road rules and use roundabouts how they are supposed to be used. Why in so many other countries they work very well but not here? Think about it...

2.3 Billion and they are only going to build a 3 lane underpass. One lane southbound? How is that going to alleviate traffic backups? Move that monument like Fascinated suggests and build an overpass. Much faster, cheaper and can have two lanes each way, off ramps east and west, and still allow traffic to flow under. Much more efficient and practical.

so you currently have a 2-3 lane road in each direction n-s & you planned to build a total of combined 3 lanes for an underpass to alleviate traffic issues someone needs to teach these people in the transportation dept how to count. seen this in many places across the island where they go from 3 lanes to 2 lanes with no true merge in place example intersection on Choa Fah west & 4010 by ...

Its time the monument was moved to the 'Battleground Park' in Thalang. Loads of space, safe and not in the middle of the main highway. Perfect for ceremonies and easily accessible. The whole area could be developed to accommodate the hall as well. A nice little earner- 'where there's roads there's gold' in Thailand. Cue further disruption.

Heroines Monument to get B2.3bn underpass

Heroines Monument to get B2.3bn underpass

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