The long-awaited Kathu-Patong tunnel is moving a step closer with the news that a feasibility study is to be completed in the next three months.
And there is further good news with the announcement that compensation for land expropriated for the project will be at market rates.
However, no date has been set for construction to begin because the project still has to be approved by the government.
The tunnel is expected to cost six billion baht and Patong Mayor Pian Keesin said the feasibility study should be completed and handed to Patong Municipality within three months.
Mayor Pian said the three consultant agencies, Epsilon Co, PlanPro Corp, and The Energy and Environmental Engineering Centre, from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering, have proposed that the tunnel under Patong Hill should start from near Go-Kart Speedway field.
It would follow the same direction as the existing road for about 500 metres and then turn left under Nak Kerd Hill.
The proposed tunnel will be 165 metres long.
The new road after the tunnel will pass Pisitkoranee road and then join Phang Muang Sai Gor road at the end.
Mayor Pian said once the feasibility study was completed the municipality would send the proposal to the Ministry of Transportation for budget approval.
He said the budget of five to six billion baht would come from the government and there were already some construction companies from China and Korea interested in doing the construction work.
And there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Baan Morn community who have opposed the project because their land will be expropriated by the municipality.
Mayor Pian said the land owners affected will get compensation at the same market value as Patong's land prices, which is about 80 million baht per rai for land near Phang Muang Sai Gor road, instead of land at the soi price of about 10-20 million baht per rai.