Traffic safety raises concerns in Phuket light-rail plans

“Then the whole project will open for service in 2023, approximately,” he said.

Joining Governor Norraphat in making the announcement at Phuket Provincial hall was Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi Director of Project Development Department at the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which has been handed the responsibility for overseeing the B39.4 billion light-rail project.

Mr Gardphajon explained that the legal changes required in order to allow the MRTA to operate projects outside of Bangkok were made by the Cabinet last Tuesday (Sept 11).

“Then Public-Private Partnership analysis can be concluded, which we expect by November, this year,” he said.

The MRTA reconfirmed last week that the total track length of light-rail will be 58.5km, from Tha Noon in Phang Nag to Chalong Circle.

Phase 1 of the project will be installing the double tracks from Phuket International Airport to Chalong Circle.

The trains will be permitted to travel no faster than 20-40km/h on average in built-up areas, but up to a maximum speed of 100km/h outside those areas.

Phase 1 also comprises the building of 21 stations between the airport and Chalong Circle, as follows:

1. Airport (elevated)

2. Muang Mai

3. Muang Thalang School

4. Thalang (underground)

5. Heroines Monument

6. Koh Kaew

7. Phuket Bus Terminal

8. Phuket Rajabhat University

9. Thung Kha

10. Thalang Rd

11. Phuket Clocktower Circle

12. Bang Niow

13. Phuket Public Library

14. Saphan Hin

15. Sakdidet Rd

16. Dowroong

17. Wichit

18. Chao Fah East

19. Palai

20. Ban Khok Tanode

21. Chalong Circle

The remaining three stations will be along the northern extension from the turnoff to the airport on Thepkrasattri Rd to Tha Noon in Phang Nga, as follows: Phuket Gateway, Tha Chatchai and Tha Noon.

However, a key concern now being addressed are the road-safety issues that the light rail will bring, especially at crossings.

The plans are currently being reviewed in order to reduce the number of crossings as much as possible, and to make the crossings as safe as possible, the MRTA noted in its release.

As such, from the airport turnoff to the norther city limits of Phuket Town, there will be six tunnels built in order for the light rail to avoid interacting with traffic, with three of the tunnels being built along Thepkrasattri Rd in Thalang alone: one near the Khun Mae Ju store, one in front of Thalang Post Office and another in front of Thalang Police Station.

The locations of the other three tunnels were not revealed.

Meanwhile, eight U-turn points along Thepkrasattri Rd will be closed and the Phase 1 section of track will have in total just 12 crossings – with right of way given to the light rail at all crossings,

However, the MRTA did note that its plans did not include the two ‘flyover U-turns’ to be built as they were accounted for by Highways Department projects.

From the northern boundary of Phuket Town south through to Chao Fa East Rd, all crossings will be the same as the signals and barriers used by at standard railway crossings.

But more importantly, traffic will be rerouted to account for the small width of the roads in the heart of Phuket Town.

Along Thepkrasattri Rd and onto Phuket Rd, the section of road between Thungkha Rd and Dibuk Rd will changed to be one-way southward,.

Inversely, the section of Yaowarat Rd from Komaraphat Rd to Dibuk Rd will be changed to be one-way northward.

How do they what to make the tunnels in Thalang area, Same way they to the underpass ?
Has the PEA (Eletric), PWA (water), Highway department and MRTA. Did they have a meeting together to sort out when, how and who need to do work in this time frame over this areas ? Is there an idea how to move people from cars to the MRTA, both tourist and locals ?

Let's hope the Chalong Underpass is finished before light rail station construction there starts? Where at Chalong Circle is space for such a station, for bus, tuktuk, minivan and taxi facilities?? Light rail speed up to 100km/h? I not believe it. Again a typical fantasy press release, one no one remembers in 2023 or later. 
But it reads nice, now.