Among the changes are plans to make major roads into one-way systems and closing Thepkrassattri Rd to all traffic in the heart of Phuket Town.
The plans also include making Thepkrassattri Rd one way from Komaraphat Rd to Thalang Rd (Note: Thepkrassattri Rd is currently already one way from Dibuk Rd to Rassada Rd).
Plans are also afoot to make Chumporn Rd one-way westbound and Nakorn Rd one-way eastbound, and to allow one-way traffic to run alongside the light-rail cars on Thepkrassattri Rd from Komaraphat Rd to the Thung Kha Intersection near Satree Phuket School.
Other major changes planned are to make Thepkrassattri Road closed to traffic from Thalang Rd to Rassada Rd, near the heart of the Phuket Old Town, and to make Phuket Rd one way northbound from Kra Rd to Taling Chan Rd at the Surin Circle (next to The Metropole Hotel).
One daunting prospect is to reduce the road lanes along Chao Fa East Rd from the Dowroong Intersection to Chalong Circle so that the light-rail cars can travel safely to their final destination there.
Apichart Jansangkul, spokesperson of Enrich Consultants, hired by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to carry out the feasibility studies for the light-rail project, stressed to The Phuket News that any changes to the traffic flow due to the light-rail project were still “a long way off”.
“These are early days ,” he said. “At this stage, this is just a plan, but these changes were proposed a long time ago to the previous Phuket Governor, Maitri Inthusut.
“A date for a public meeting on this has yet to be set. We are only just beginning to survey the area.”
The tour to be lead by Gov Nisit on Thursday, starting at 10am, specifically aims to inform the pubic of the key issues involved in setting up the light-rail, including any changes to traffic flow, he added.
Joining Gov Nisit will be City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana as well as at least one Phuket Vice Governor and top-level officials from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) and the Phuket Provincial Police.
The group will meet at the Wor Kor Intersection near Phuket Rajabhat University and take a songtaew bus down Thepkrasattri Rd to the Thung Ka Intersection, through Phuket Old Town, past the renowned Clocktower Circle (Surin Circle) and stop at Queen Sirikit Park* in the heart of Phuket Town.
“We plan to stop at the park and at Bang Niew Shrine to talk to residents and get general feedback of the impact of the new service and the traffic issues that might arise,” said Mr Apichart.
The tour might choose to stop at other locations along the way, such as in Phuket Old Town, he added.
The light-rail project aims to bring to Phuket a 60-kilometre light-rail system that is expected to cost B24 billion and take about 36 months to complete.
The initial design of the project, based on a low-floor tram system, comprises 21 stations running from Tha-Noon in Phang Nga to the terminal at Chalong Circle.
The 30-metre long trams will have a maximum speed of 100kmh with a limit of 20 to 40kmh in downtown areas. Double tracks will be used in certain areas, yet to be specified, whilst others will be served by a single track.
The main depot is expected to be located behind the Nissan Thalang Showroom near Tesco Lotus Thalang.
Some areas of Phuket Town, such as the Chartered Bank Junction in Phuket Town, may be turned into pedestrianised zones. (See story here.)
* CORRECTION: The original report stated the tour will go to Suan Luang park on the south side of town. The error is regretted.