Two flyovers were planned: one at the u-turn at the first set of traffic lights north of Thalang Town; and the second at the Baan Koh Kaew - Tha Ruea u-turn in front of the Jeeteng mansion (pronounced “Yee Teng”).
But at the final public hearing necessary for the project to pass its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit, local residents voted “no”, because they believed the flyovers would be too ugly.
“I was very surprised by the vote,” Phuket Highways Office director Samak Luedwonghad told The Phuket News.
“The main purpose of this project was for the safety of the motorists first, and to ease the mass traffic jams on Thepkrasattri Rd. The flyovers would bring more safety and convenience to all people passing along that road,” he said.
About 180 people turned up at the meeting, held on August 10, Mr Samak explained. “A total of 95 people were eligible to vote, and 65 percent of those said, ‘No’,” he added.
Mr Samak said that he had explained at the meeting that flyovers cost much less and take much less time to build compared with underpasses.
“A flyover can be finished in only one year for about B100 million, but the main reason the locals voted against it was that the view of the landscape would be affected,’ he explained.
“It might be that some of the locals don’t like change. The sites for both flyovers were well selected by our experienced officers. They were to be built at locales that would have least affected the locals.
“However, in my opinion, safety comes first and easing traffic jams is another top priority. All other reasons are less important,” he said.
Mr Samak says the project is now out of his hands.
“I’ve done my part. It’s up to the locals now. I collected all the information they needed to know about the construction project and its future is now in their hands.” Mr Samak said.
“Those who agree with the plan and want the flyovers to be built can put their names together and go to talk with the governor. They can ask him to reconsider the project and he can order for another public hearing to be held,” Mr Samak said.
Those in favour of the flyovers will have to move quickly.
“They’ve got about three to four months before the Highways Department will have to re-allocate the B200-million budget for the project,” Mr Samak said.
“If that happens, then the budget will be allocated to other projects out of the province. There’s nothing I can do about that.”