But are the ‘powers that be’ simply failing to understand the route cause of the problem?
Numerous feasibility studies have been done into plans to build a tunnel through Patong Hill, with wild cost estimates thrown about, and potential completion dates suggested.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island a further three projects have been given the green light: An underpass next to Central Festival at a cost of B600 million, an underpass at the intersection next to Tesco-Lotus (B850 million), and another underpass at the Bang Ku intersection at the north end of the bypass, costing B500 million.
At a recent informal public hearing for the project, respected local geologist Professor Amnart Tantitamsopon said that he had reservations about the safety of the underpass next to Central Festival.
Professor Amnart believes that as the intersection is in low land and was once a tin mine, that it might actually collapse in on itself.
It’s certainly positive that people are concerned about the safety and costs of these projects, however if one of the main reasons for the project is to reduce traffic, isn’t there an easier, more cost-effective, more environmentally green and more obvious way of doing it?
Creating these extra roads is not going to reduce the number of cars, motorcycles nor the already dangerously-high toxic levels of pollution in the air.
The best case scenario is that it’s just going to make it ‘slightly’ easier to traverse the island. The worst case is that it will create more traffic, longer queues and more accidents, not to mention the major disruption caused during construction.
If local or even national government was seriously interested in reducing levels of traffic and improving road safety, they would introduce reasonably-priced and well organised public transport.
There is no need to accommodate more cars, what Phuket should be doing is looking at ways of reducing the number on the roads.